Driving while tired: what the dangers are and how to deal with them

We all know the feeling. Driving along, your head starts to feel fuzzy, you yawn, your eye lids get heavy – you’re starting to get tired. That’s usually no more than an inconvenience but driving while tired can be extremely dangerous. To put it bluntly, fatigue was a factor in an estimated 4% of road deaths in 2023.

There are ways you can stave off tiredness setting in, and ways you can cope with it when it does. In this article we’re going to look at what they are; we’ll also consider potential ramifications of getting too tired while driving. But let’s be clear at this point that the best course of action by far is stopping in a safe place to get some sleep.

Is driving while tired really that dangerous?

Consider this: at 70mph, your car travels 31 metres or 101 feet every second. That’s the length of two lorries. If you’re so tired that you close your eyes for just that single second, you could easily miss a developing hazard or lose control of the car.

Falling into microsleep is the greatest danger of driving while tired. Microsleep is defined as the brain falling into a sleep state for between two and 30 seconds. At 70mph, you travel the length of two football pitches in two seconds. That’s more than enough time and distance for you to unwittingly turn the steering and cause all manner of problems.

You may remember this film from the Think! road safety campaign which makes the point in quite shocking terms.

Even travelling at slower speeds, closing your eyes for a couple of seconds could cause a very bad situation. So, if you feel like you’re struggling to keep your eyes open, stop in the first safe place you can find to get some kip.

Where is a safe place to stop and get some sleep in a car?

Anywhere that’s well away from the road is safe enough to stop and get some sleep in your car. Otherwise, you could find yourself on the receiving end of an accident. Places like laybys, service stations and car parks are best; you’re not allowed to stop on motorway hard shoulders or refuge areas unless it’s an emergency and being tired doesn’t count.

You might also want to consider your personal safety, as well. You’re less vulnerable in areas with CCTV coverage and lighting. Don’t forget to lock the doors, either.

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How do I sleep in a car?

It can be really difficult to sleep in a car because the seats aren’t designed for it. So you need to adjust the seat into the most comfortable position possible. The light outside may be an issue, as well. You could keep an eye mask in the car, we’ve found a beany hat pulled down over your eyes is just as effective. You may want to use ear plugs to cut out ambient noise, as well.

Then there’s the temperature. It’s best not to run the car’s climate control with the engine off because the battery might go flat; you shouldn’t leave the engine running while you sleep, either. If you absolutely must have the ignition on, limit sleep to 15 minutes so you can turn the engine on and boost the battery.

What time of day am I more likely to get tired while driving?

Unsurprisingly, you’re most likely to fall asleep while driving during the hours of darkness. Interestingly, accidents statistics show it’s more likely to happen at 6am than 10pm, though it’s not clear if that’s because the people involved had been up all night or got up early. But you can fall asleep at any time of day. After all, driving is inherently tiring, and you may have had insufficient sleep the night before.  

The UK’s most notorious incidence of falling asleep at the wheel is the Selby rail crash of 2001. The driver in question left home before 5am having only had an hour’s sleep. He nodded off at 6am, his car veered off the road and ended up on a railway line. The car was hit by a train which derailed and ploughed into another train on the other line. An unlikely confluence of events, but one that left 10 people dead.

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The ideal is to time your journey for the point in the day you’re most alert, but that’s not always possible. Now we’ll look at some techniques that can help you stave off getting tired in the first place, hopefully long enough to get to your destination.

Stop regularly

Stopping and getting out of the car for some air can help clear a fuzzy head. Pay attention to how you feel and stop as often as you need to; give yourself at least 15 minutes to recover. Bear in mind that lorry and coach drivers are legally required to take a break of at least 45 minutes every 4.5 hours. IAM Roadsmart recommends stopping every two hours or hundred miles, even if you’re wide awake.

Get plenty of food and drink

Eating and drinking will help keep your energy levels up. Avoid things that only provide a short-term calorie hit. Cereal-based snacks that release energy slowly are more helpful; energy drinks and coffee can be a pretty effective pick-up-me, as well. Just try not to overdo it – being hopped-up on caffeine isn’t a good state for driving, either.

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Turn the heat down

We sleep best when we’re warm and cosy. If your car feels like that, you’re more likely to drift off. Changing the aircon’s temperature to the point you’re slightly uncomfortable can help keep you alert.

Crack open the windows

A flow of fresh air coming in through the windows can be surprisingly effective in keeping you awake. The extra noise it creates is also a factor, and it helps lower the temperature inside the car.

Put the stereo on

Part of the reason driving can be so tiring is it can be a rather mindless task. Giving your brain something to do keeps you alert – an interesting podcast, up-tempo songs or talking to your passengers should do the trick. One of our writers recommends actively reading every road sign and doing maths with the numbers on the dashboard, as well.

How much sleep should I get?

These techniques are all well and good, but you still need to recognise when it’s time to throw in the towel and stop for some sleep. Studies have shown that as little as five minutes can revive you for a few hours, but the more you can get the better. One of our writers notes that just having his eyes closed for 10 or 15 minutes without actually sleeping can be restorative. But, again, pay attention to how you feel. If you wake up and are still too tired to continue driving, put your head back down for a while. It’s better to get where you’re going late than risk not getting there at all.

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