Staying Awake While Driving at Night

[Webmaster]

I came across this helpful video about tips on staying awake while driving at night...

http://www.howcast.com/videos/450-How-T ... le-Driving

How about you? Do you have any tips for other I-95 travelers?

[bostonboy]

If you look at my other postings, you'll see that I like to play with the radio in the car.

Talk radio is great. In the USA, 88-92 FM has non-commercial radio, and often you'll find a small-college station, with a DJ, who may be just horsing around -- but enough to keep you awake. I do know that WBZ-AM has some excellent late night talk - Dan Rea until 11, Steve Levallile after midnight -- live local talk on a 50kw blowtorch - can be heard up and down the east coast.

Bubble gum also keeps you awake, as long as you keep refreshing it. A GPS can be interesting to watch - interesting enough to keep you awake. It's a toy that you can play with - just see what's listed at the next exit for the helluvit.

Finally - ol' bostonboy's long-time trick to stay awake? Get a good night's rest. I used to drive to FL in my "hippie van" in the late 70s, early 80s. I would leave for Florida on Friday morning before dawn. To prepare -- on Wednesday night, I would only get 3-4 hours' sleep. Yeah, I'd be draggin' my behind around at work on Thursday, but ...

I'd go home , have dinner, pack, and be in the rack at 8 or so. And be up at 4:30 Friday morning - rested and ready to rock. The best way to get a good night's sleep is to NOT get one the previous night.

DON'T DRIVE FATIGUED. I fell asleep at the wheel - ONCE. That was more than enough.

[njnorsky]

Try not to drive at night. We typically go to Hilton Head during the kid's spring break from school, its about a 13-14 hrs drive (stops included). I'll usually get up a couple of hours earlier than usual the day before and then no caffine after 1 PM. Go to bed by 9 or 10 PM and then up at 2:30 AM or so, shower and finish packing the last minute things into the car (including the wife and kids). Hit the road by 3:30 AM.

I find that starting out in the dark and traveling into the day and during the day a lot easier than doing a long haul overnight.