What do you do to keep yourself awake when you have to drive and you're tired (not falling asleep)?

flutterbypurr

I've driven straight through from LA to Oklahoma City once. Over 25 hours. I think what helped most was always remembering that I didn't trust the other person to drive my car. On the way out there I let him drive for an hour and he put it in a ditch in Kansas on ice at night. He was also annoying and I just wanted to get there so it would end and get him out of my car. Find something annoying and it will keep you awake and focused.

Fred C

Driving tired is just as dangerous and just as stupid as driving drunk.
If you are that tired, pull over and nap! That isn't just good advice, it is the law. Remember, tired is impaired, just like being over limit on booze, or on drugs.

Semper Fi 83

I usually put a photo of a mangled car on the rear view mirror. Works for me......

Ben

Driving while tired is extremely dangerous, do you not value your own and any passengers you may have lives. I truely hope you do but just in case I advise having some1 with u as the best way as they can keep u awake so long as they dont nod off which is very likely drink lots of expressos keep off the motorway and dont drive within 50 miles off me as I value my life thanku

viper_ej

you DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE TIRED. driving "sleepy" can be as dangerous as driving drunk. there were a couple of studies that showed that your reaction time is severely affected. you can drink coffee and it will keep your eyes open but you mind will still be in a fog. you will not be at a 100% if something happens that requires you to act fast, you might not be able to. or worse, despite everything, you could still fall asleep at the wheel. happened to a friend of mine. his car was totaled and he ended up twith a dislocated shoulder, brused ribs and a bunch of other cuts and bruses.

forktail_devil

get off the road when this happens, at the next exit even. u are now a serious menace to everyone on the road, and if u have already come close to nodding off and have hit the rumble strips a couple of times, some1 might have reported a possible drunk driver because overtired drivers behave like one.

if u wind up getting into a wreck, u will get hammered for it. and god help u if u wind up killing someone. can we say.....vehicular homicide? that'll keep u off the streets for about 5-10 years...at the judge's decision. dont risk other people's lives just because u were too selfish to pull off the road for some shut-eye.

if that dont convice u, maybe this will. a few years ago, there was a special event goin on around here that typically attracts a very large crowd. traffic started backing up at this 1 particularly bad strech that is notorious in this area for being unofficially labeled as the most dangerous intersection in the county. anyway, a semi driver fell asleep at the wheel for just briefly, and woke up too late to get the truck stopped before plowing full force into a line of cars. final tally: 6 killed, more wounded. he wound up getting charged with multiple counts of vehicular homicide for starters....plus failure to control, reckless endangerment, reckless operation. he's currently doing time....15 years in prison. is this something u want?

Pilgrim

I breathe deeply. The extra oxygen combined with the additional activity doesn't allow the brain to slip into sleep.
.

tookoolfool

roll the windows down and blast some jammin music, slap your face (not hard), sing along with the radio, drink some caffeine, if that doesn't work pull over and take a 20 min nap....better to be safe then sorry!

Mitch Connor

Windows open (all of them) and music off (bizzarely).

Rob

GET A TAXI

dadseimaj

I'd either get somebody else to drive or delay the journey till I wasn't tired.

Better to be late then THE late

darkblue

splash cold water on ur face
drink coffee
think about your incomplete projects and ideas on how to work on them.
listen to live funky, or RnB kind of music to get you up.

Nicholas

Sing out loud, roll down the windows. Works for me anyway, or just keep your mind busy. Keep thinking about things and you won't drift off as easily.

JIM

i have driven large lories long distance and i ha to use uppers to prevent crashing. they are easy to get at any truck stop from the truckers. if it is not that severe for you, just drink thick black coffee. i used to carry a big jar of that with me. as a last resort, stop and get out and walk around and if that dosn't work, pull off and stop driving. take a nap.

Not drive or have cold air blowing through, open some windows, put the music up loud, sing to the music and drink some coffee.

window down, music up, sing loudly (and badly!)
if really tired, i'd have to stop

Matt

If you have air-conditioning in your vehicle, put it on the coldest setting and freeze your damn self to death! I tell ya it works for me! If i have any heat at all coming out of those vents it starts to send you off! Luckily i deal with the cold pretty well, but if you start shivering just let it happen cos it'll work! Redbull does wonders too, and some loud music but not music you listen to all the time cos else it almost hypnotises you, put something crazy on with a mega-beat and jig around like a fool! It maybe not to your taste, but Dragonforce are the best band to keep you awake, man the energy just flows! Try their song Through The Fire and The Flames, learn the words and rock out to it! It gets the blood pumping i can tell ya!
Anyway..............
Oh yeh and maybe stop for a break *coughs*

jenny flower

Get a tissue or hankie and put Rosemary oil on it. it Keeps you alert.

drew c

drink alot of red bull.

andy t

tred the stop at service station
tried window down
tried energy/dcaffein drinks - nothin works on long straight boring roads
get off the motorway and drive down some country lanes [where you have to use your brain] it rejuvenates me no end till i forget i was fighting to stay awake

Raul S

this might be funny but i bite green jalapeno peppers that works better then any product out there and is cheap too the hot in the pepper will keep you awake

If you're just a little bit tired, try coffee and music (not too soft, and best if you like to sing along.) Keep your mind active by concentrating on something - e.g. challenge yourself by seeing how close you can keep your speed accurate to within 1 mph. And keep the window down - the noise and cool air can help a little.

If these don't work, pull over and rest (nap if you can, just rest if you can't.) There's no real "cure" for being tired except rest.

Good luck!

ALBERT

Open the window and play loud Reggae music and dance to it while driving.

Adacadus

Windows wide open.

WARNING:
It distorts your hearing and numbs half of your face.

Debi

caffeine (pills and drinks) windows open, music loud and heavy.
Do not put the heater on !

chari*pie

just keep urself awake! my stepdad has 2 drive me n my brother all the way from mississippi 2 kentucky without any rest!!!! lol. so yea. its hard but wat u gotta do is make sure theres somebody there just incase if u cant take it. ALSO GET LOTS OF SLEEP B4 UR TRIP!

Michael P

Caffine works...coffee or cola. Sugar too, if you can handle it. Going to bed early is the best solution. It's not somethng to play with!

Enough boring stuff...now, can I tell you a joke?!?

My friend just said to me that he wants to die quietly and peacefully, sound asleep like grandfather...not screaming in terror like his passengers.

PAUL W

Plenty of Red Bull and fresh air. Better still a good hours sleep before you drive

sweetie

fresh air by putting my window down and a energy drink like red bull.

LITTLE BEAR B

one word : METALLICA

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