It would be easy to say that the answer to staying alert on long drives is to get plenty of rest before starting the drive, and that certainly is true.  It can be a misleading, however, and if it gets you a little overconfident it might even be dangerous.  Driving a car over today’s interstate highways, especially at night, is going to tend to make even the most well rested driver drowsy.  The highway is hypnotic, and remaining still in a sitting position lulls the body into a restful and relaxed state. The following tips should be used regardless of the amount of rest you had before the trip started.

1. Break up your trip with rest periods.  Perhaps, the most important thing you can do is break your trip into set segments.  A good schedule would call for taking a 15 minute break every 2 hours.  This break could be a restroom stop, or refueling stop, but if these are not needed, stop anyway.  Get out of the car, and walk around for a while.  Stopping and taking a 15 minute nap is going to make it worse, not better, when you resume driving.

2. Stay cool. Temperature control in your vehicle will influence how drowsy you become.  If the vehicle is overly warm, you will be less alert. Keep the car a bit cool, and make sure there is good air circulation.

3. Look and Listen.  How you drive is important.  During daylight hours this is a bit easier. There are things to look at, but at night you still need to be moving your eyes around. This is good driving technique anyway.  Look in your mirrors frequently, and check your gauges. Moving your eyes around and keeping your mind active prevents daydreaming, and retards the hypnotic effect of the road.  Music is also helpful and it doesn’t hurt to sing along.

4. Alertness aids.  There are a lot of products on the market that are designed for additional energy and mental alertness.  They include pills and energy drinks.  In fact, energy drinks are one of the fastest growing products in the country.  Caffeine is the most common ingredient here, although other ingredients that claim to increase alertness are included.  They are certainly not a replacement for rest, and should not encourage you to avoid a set rest schedule.  They also might not help much more than a good hot cup of coffee, but in the end, their use is a personal decision.  It is wise to take them with caution, and start off slowly, and learn how your own body is going to react.

When nothing you try stops you from nodding your head and drifting toward the side of the highway, it is time to stop and get a long and restful sleep.  It is always better to get there a little bit late than to not get there at all.