Staying awake

Iowan_Juggalo · 02-08-02, 03:00

My Gf lives bout 3 hrs away or about 170 miles away. Now when I go to see her I am usualy fine. But on my way back I start falling a sleep. I go on a friday or sat morning and leave on sunday round 4. Any tips on keeping me awake. Soda= bathroom. And no coffie cause i dont have a cup holder. I jus put my botel of dew were it wont spill. Help me please

JohnN · 02-08-02, 03:04

Man, oh MAN - don't take the trip to begin with! If you're falling asleep consistently, you need to change when you're going. I'm not kidding - watch out for this - too many people meet their ends because they're too tired behind the wheel.

That said - after working 10-12 hours straight when I was first out of college and writing code, the only thing that kept me awake for the 30 minute ride home was windows wide open, and an AM radio talk station. NO MUSIC. Music just has a way of rythymically putting you to sleep.

Seriously though - rethink when you're driving back. A few hours could make a huge difference.

Intermezzo · 02-08-02, 03:21

For most people, the late afternoon (4:30 - 6:30 PM) is when your body has the strongest tendency to get drowsy (except bedtime, of course). I'm usually konked out on the sofa Sunday afternoons, half-awake watching the tube. As John advised, you might wanna rethink when you start that long drive back home.

SVT01 · 02-08-02, 09:05

I found the ONLY non-drowsy way to travel... tried the other routes (coffee, dew, yelling, head out the window, slapping yourself, etc.).

The only tried and true method for killing the drowsy's is to carry a pack of sunflower seeds and a shell spit cup! If you don't already know how, learn to crack open a sunflower nut inside your mouth with only your teeth, spit out the shells and then chew the nut. You can put 10-15 sunflower nuts into your mouth each time... now you have to keep the rest of the nuts on one side while you try to open & spit the one your trying to eat. The task at hand WILL keep you awake!

I've became drowsy while only 2 hours into the dreaded 8 hour drive to visit THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.... I'd rather be driving............anywhere but there! The Sunflower method has allowed me to unfortunately make the entire trip without ever getting those dam drosey's again!

Short Cut · 02-08-02, 09:31

That's a bad scenario dude. When you are tired like that the best thing is to pull it over and bag some quick zzzz's... A 20 minute nap will do wonders to restore your level of alertness. Many long distance motorcycle riders and long haul truckers use these for taking short naps when they absolutely have to wake back up in a set amount of time. They are extremely loud and impossible to sleep through. :scared

clic pic

Guess My Name · 02-08-02, 10:10

I talk to the ONSTAR operators

Lowejackson · 02-10-02, 04:27

Here in the UK, we recently had a case where a man was traveling on the motorway with little or no sleep. He fell asleep and his car went over a hill on to a railway line. Whilst he was phoning the police, a train hit his car, killing 10 people. He was found guilty and sent to prison for 5 years. The view of the court was that you do know when your drifting off to sleep, and this guy ignored it.

I cannot remember the figures, but a significant number of drivers have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel :scared

Steven
Alfa 164

Don2000g · 02-19-02, 09:05

The sunflower technique sounds interesting. Pulling over at a gas station and picking up some ice ina cup also works. Get half a cup of ice in a styrofoam cup and slowly eat the ice. Have you ever tried to sleep with ice in your mouth. It's hard! Another thing you can do is to pull over every 15 or 20 minutes if you have to. Walk for a minute or so, around the car a few times if you have to.

Short Cut · 02-20-02, 08:52

If you're just trying to make it to the next exit bite your tongue! :scared a little jolt of pain will keep you awake albeit temporarily.

Jngrbrdman · 02-20-02, 09:56

I used to switch my radio to a static station and then turn the volume up real high. That usually works. I still remember times where I got home and don't remember how I made it. My GF used to live 2 hours away and I'd make the trip all the time. When I left her house at 4 am because I had to be at work at 6:30. It sucked. I ended up hooking up with a girl that lived closer.

olivher · 02-21-02, 03:50

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnN
That said - after working 10-12 hours straight when I was first out of college and writing code, the only thing that kept me awake for the 30 minute ride home was windows wide open, and an AM radio talk station. NO MUSIC. Music just has a way of rythymically putting you to sleep.

I tuned into an AM radio station for most of my 6 hour trip last weekend and it really helped me stay awake. I usually yawn every few minutes when listening to FM and the CD player, but this AM technique really worked! Thanks a lot!

Don2000g · 02-23-02, 02:33

So AM talk radio helps keep you all up as you're driving. Any station or topic in particular that worked best. Laters