Night Driving Tips Request

Sleep,

10-15 minutes will do.

 

I start my week with sunrise to sunset, and end it with sunset to sunrise. It sucks, it's like I have to change my sleeping pattern every single week. From what I've experienced, i have to keep my self entertained. Listening interesting podcasts or audiobooks. I don't drink coffee unless, I need to. I also pack all kinds of raw vegetables in one bag, and eat it on my drive, it helps you stay awake and you getting good nutrition. I also tried napping once, that was the biggest mistake, I've made, cause when I woke up, I felt like I've just experienced coma, and still had 5 hours to drive.

 

Eat three good meals a day, lots of water, and don't go home and crawl in bed right away. Take a walk, ride a bike, or whatever works. Stay away from the energy drinks and pills, they only help for a couple minutes. And if all else fails, pull over and sleep a few minutes. No load of anything is worth killing someone or yourself

 

I concur with some of the above. Power naps of 20 - 30 minutes. Also try keeping the window down half, the radio cranked up, sing along with the Eagles at the top of your lungs, and bang your feet up and down to the beat !! That's what's worked for me for 30 years on nights. We're all different .......

 

The key to getting use to driving at night is to be consistent on what time you wake up and go to bed, and that means doing the same on your days off. I don't know if your married, single, kids, but you have to be consistent with your sleep cycle. Yeah it sucks waking up at 9pm on your day off and doing nothing but watching TV all day, but as time goes on, and you get use to working at night, you will find it easier to stay up all night. Try getting into a routine on your days off of maybe working out, do some late night shopping at Walmart supercenter, clean the house, small things that will keep you busy until morning besides watching TV all night.

 

I do 20 nights on 10 days off and like most of the guys are saying, a nap is the best way. usually between 2-3am is when I start getting tired. Sometimes I can get through it with no problems but the nights I need to stop I usually take a 20-30min nap. No load is worth your life.

I also listen to lots of audiobooks because they keep you listening and awake instead of music where its easier to zone out.

Protein drinks or snacks like almonds or nuts usually give a boost of energy to keep you up.

Once you find your sleeping pattern it definitley will be easier to stay up.

 

My first job was driving trucks. I even had a commercial license. I'm 84 years old now and I've survived fast cars, planes, motorcycles, offshore sailing, and my current C4/C5 Corvette conversion. Here's how night driving can get you killed. Your eyes normally pick up about fifteen images per second. When you are tired at night that slows down until it locks on one last image and you go off the road. To avoid it, follow someone's tail lights. When they start jerking from one side to the other that is and indication that your eyes are not taking enough images. Pull over and stop for as long as necessary.

 

Prolly you getting tires of the night shift