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Staying awake while driving, wtf.

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Posts

  • BetelguesePDXBetelguesePDX Registered User
    On my longass drive from NM to OR I had an audiobook by Alan Alda. Very engaging and laugh out loud funny. Seems the actual laughing out loud helped most to keep me awake. I second the suggestion of audio books, but try and get ones that will amuse you or make you laugh.

  • TigressTigress Registered User
    If possible, have someone ride with you. I drive to conventions at least once a month and it helps to have someone to talk to and keep me alert. I also keep a stock of "road music", either stuff I can sing along to or foreign language songs that I'm trying to learn.

    Kat's Play
    On the subject of death and daemons disappearing: arrows sure are effective in Lyra's universe. Seems like if you get shot once, you're dead - no lingering deaths with your daemon huddling pitifully in your arms, just *thunk* *argh* *whoosh*. A battlefield full of the dying would just be so much more depressing when you add in wailing gerbils and dogs.
  • GarickGarick Registered User regular
    Radar Love

  • tofutofu Registered User
    I commute a couple hours every day on the highway, on days where I didn't get a whole lot of sleep before hand I find that talking/singing or listening to talk radio or radio plays are the best ways to make sure you don't drift off.

    If you do start to fall asleep pull over or take the next exit and give yourself a little rest before continuing on the highway.

  • blizzard224blizzard224 Registered User
    I see caffeine hasn't helped you, maybe try cigarettes if you don't find them too offputting.

    One other trick I have is to put my seat in not too comfortable position - like too close to the steering wheel or something. Seems to help.

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • tsmvengytsmvengy Registered User regular
    Your seat might not be in the right position - you don't want to be leaning back too much, and your head should NOT be resting on the "headrest."

    steam_sig.png
  • Greg343Greg343 Registered User
    Sunflower seeds. I know many people swear by them. The saltiness keeps you awake.

  • HypatiaHypatia Registered User regular
    I do the same thing driving on highways, it's like an instant off switch for my consciousness. I've also found that food helps (particularly strong flavored and a different temperature, like mint ice cream).

    Another thing that works a little less well is to focus on trying to change the channel on the radio. I'll turn the radio on and try to manually scan semi-constantly until I feel awake enough and find a song that I like, then I'll go back to scanning. This can result in 20-30 minute scan cycles where I keep flipping it, but at least I'm still conscious!

  • CelestialBadgerCelestialBadger Registered User regular
    I see caffeine hasn't helped you, maybe try cigarettes if you don't find them too offputting.

    o_O

    Sure, die of cancer in 30 years rather than on the roads now.

  • tinwhiskerstinwhiskers Registered User regular
    Ricky Gervais Podcasts.

    All of them.

    (May laugh so much you drive into ditch though...)


    Podcasts / Audiobooks seem to work really well for me.


    Certainly better than hearing the same songs on the radio over and over.

    Also Have you thought about the substance professional truck drivers use to say awake?

  • SkeithSkeith Registered User regular
    Highway driving can get pretty monotonous... probably need something to keep your mind occupied. Audiobooks and podcasts sound like the way to go, personally I like Car Talk and This American Life. Comedy might be a good place to start, but there's no reason to not load up with half a dozen different things and figure out what works the best.

    mts wrote: »
    heres how i see it being a total win situation for you
    1. stay with your wife while she dog sits. this wins husband points since she knows its out of your comfort zone
    2. have sex all over her friends house so that the next time you see her friend look at you condescendingly, you can wink back knowing you did the freaky deaky where she eats her cheerios.
  • AwkAwk Registered User regular
    Get a gps with a sexy voice and have conversations with it.

  • blizzard224blizzard224 Registered User
    I see caffeine hasn't helped you, maybe try cigarettes if you don't find them too offputting.

    o_O

    Sure, die of cancer in 30 years rather than on the roads now.

    Seems like a pretty good deal to me.....

    A couple of cigarettes a day isn't going to do you too much harm (assuming it is and stays a couple of cigarettes a day) and there's a chance that they will be exactly what the doctor ordered. If we're talking about doctors from the 60's on Marlboro's payroll I guess. :P

    In all seriousness a cigarette will give you a buzz. Effects vary massively from person to person though so it comes down to your own choice. Not forcing OP to do anything, just throwing it out there - it may work for him, it may not.

    I don't smoke much but I know long trips are a time when I oft indulge myself because I find the nicotine keeps me perky. Plus the smoking itself gives you something to do as well I guess.

    EDIT : Don't smoke with your windows closed though. Smoked-in cars smell rank.

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Caramel GenocideCaramel Genocide Registered User
    Awk wrote: »
    Get a gps with a sexy voice and have conversations with it.

    You have one of these in Liam Neeson flavour?

  • Al_watAl_wat Registered User regular
    If you don't smoke, dont start.

    But if you already smoke, then try smoking when you feel drowsy while driving.

  • blizzard224blizzard224 Registered User
    Al_wat wrote: »
    If you don't smoke, dont start.

    But if you already smoke, then try smoking when you feel drowsy while driving.

    This is pretty much true. Sort of.

    I always find it funny how people have such a polarizing attitude to smoking, how you're either a smoker or not. Friend or enemy type stuff. I just never really had that stuff ingrained in me as a kid I guess, so it comes off weird when I hear people talking about it like that. Seems like we've gone from drastically under appreciating the danger of cigarettes to well, the complete opposite.

    Trying to see if a few cigarettes will keep you awake on a long trip isn't going to get the nicotine bug biting in your head; you can see whether or not it works then make your decision there.

    But I'm starting to come off like a bloody tobacco rep at this point so I'll just stop it there.:P

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • bowenbowen Registered User regular
    Just because you smoke a cigarette a year doesn't mean you didn't just drastically increase your chances of losing your jaw or lung. Carcinogens are funny like that.

  • blizzard224blizzard224 Registered User
    bowen wrote: »
    Just because you smoke a cigarette a year doesn't mean you didn't just drastically increase your chances of losing your jaw or lung. Carcinogens are funny like that.

    Actually 1 cigarette a year would make such a minuscule difference to your chances of losing a jaw or a lung compared to the millions of other environmental factors that can cause cancer that it's not even worth taking into account. The area of study is riddled with horrendous manipulation of information on both sides of the debate; but if you look deep enough (especially into the international studies) it becomes clear that a single cigarette is minutely bad for you, and it also depends on what you smoke. There have been studies showing those who smoke a bowl of tobacco in a pipe 3 or 4 times a week live longer than those who don't, and have lower incidences of all non-mouth cancers. Also try bringing some research on Japan up for really interesting reading - the diet over there combined with the fact that smoking is generally done more moderately (5 a day rather than 20) mean that smokers and non-smokers have a much smaller difference in average life span than in the US or Australia.


    But truly this isn't the place for this discussion. I will stop here.

    EDIT : I don't want this post to be misconstrued as me trying to convince people to smoke because it isn't that bad for you. It is bad for you. It may well one day kill you, it may one day kill me. I'm just trying to point out that there are discrepancies and misinformation on both sides and that anti-smoking organizations can be just as manipulative as their opponents. This is just a personal irk of mine, sorry for bringing it into this thread.

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Caramel GenocideCaramel Genocide Registered User
    I appreciate the smoking suggestions - but I truly can't stand the smell, so I won't be trying that route. Maybe it'll be helpful for someone else though :D

  • SithDrummerSithDrummer Registered User regular
    Are your problems limited to nighttime driving, or do you have similar difficulties during the day?

    It's an easy game to hate
  • GungHoGungHo Registered User regular
    Awk wrote: »
    Get a gps with a sexy voice and have conversations with it.

    Ohhh... that's right, you dirty slut. Tell me to turn right in 2 miles. Mmmmm. I think I'm going to make you recalculate.

    "Adios, mofo" -- TX Gov Rick Perry (R)
  • Caramel GenocideCaramel Genocide Registered User
    I don't recall this problem occurring at night, actually - however it's been quite a while since I've done any extended nighttime highway driving.

  • DoctorArchDoctorArch Curmudgeon Registered User regular
    Do you have ADHD? In my case, I had the exact same problem with driving, because it bored me to tears. Once I started taking medication (Strattera) I have never had that problem since.

    Steam ID: DoctorArch Xbox Live: DoctorArch
  • PaladinPaladin Registered User regular
    Get good sleep at night, have a bottle of water on hand, and slap yourself in the cheeks and pull off the road for 5 or 10 minutes. Don't go to sleep, though

    Yes audiobooks help, music doesn't really especially

    Marty: The future, it's where you're going?
    Doc: That's right, twenty five years into the future. I've always dreamed on seeing the future, looking beyond my years, seeing the progress of mankind. I'll also be able to see who wins the next twenty-five world series.
  • JJJJ Registered User regular
    Whenever I get tired I scream as loud as I can. Sometimes I just do it for the hell of it while driving.

    Mr. Banballow was so badly maimed, he turned into a hideous monster, oozing and bleeding, snarling and growling like a beast---enraged and bent on revenge. He tracked down the kids responsible for the fire and killed them one by one----with a blowtorch. That wasn't enough for Banballow. He won't leave his inn or his memories, so there he waits....in ambush....
  • stevemarks44stevemarks44 Registered User regular
    I actually just blew a few fuses in my car and am now without radio, etc to keep me alert, so I've actually taken to talking to myself.

    I tend to just think and talk out loud the entirety of my ride. If I get bored, I'll start to say innocuous things to other drivers, "It's your turn to switch lanes now, sir". It's stupid and kind of ridiculous, but it keeps me awake.

    2eg8oiu.jpg
  • Al_watAl_wat Registered User regular
    I actually just blew a few fuses in my car and am now without radio, etc to keep me alert, so I've actually taken to talking to myself.

    I tend to just think and talk out loud the entirety of my ride. If I get bored, I'll start to say innocuous things to other drivers, "It's your turn to switch lanes now, sir". It's stupid and kind of ridiculous, but it keeps me awake.

    Fixing fuses is like the easiest thing in the world and takes 1 minute

  • fightinfilipinofightinfilipino legally competent Registered User regular
    i would actually think smoking would not be helpful, since nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, thus reducing blood flow to parts of your body...



    you can try changing your "scanning" pattern up. if you find yourself staring ahead for long stretches of driving, try looking around a bit more at your rear-views, your instrument panel, to the sides. not to the point where you're not paying attention of course, but enough where you're practicing defensive driving AND taking in the sights while you drive.

    i've found driving a bit more interesting after noticing weird things like giant cockroach sculptures in front of pesticide companies or, well, hot chicks walking or running.

    ffNewSig.png
    google+ | facebook | twitter | steam | Guild Wars 2: fightinfilipino.8914
  • SkyCaptainSkyCaptain Registered User regular
    JJ wrote: »
    Whenever I get tired I scream as loud as I can. Sometimes I just do it for the hell of it while driving.

    Get some screamo music and play it loud with the windows down so you can "scream" along and have an excuse to wig out the people around you at intersections. :)

    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
  • PaladinPaladin Registered User regular
    i would actually think smoking would not be helpful, since nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, thus reducing blood flow to parts of your body...



    you can try changing your "scanning" pattern up. if you find yourself staring ahead for long stretches of driving, try looking around a bit more at your rear-views, your instrument panel, to the sides. not to the point where you're not paying attention of course, but enough where you're practicing defensive driving AND taking in the sights while you drive.

    i've found driving a bit more interesting after noticing weird things like giant cockroach sculptures in front of pesticide companies or, well, hot chicks walking or running.

    Vasoconstriction decreases overall blood flow by increasing resistance, but increases peripheral pressure, guaranteeing perfusion to distal parts of your body. Decreases capillary hydrostatic pressure though, which decreases filtration of blood in capillary nets.


    Doesn't matter, though. Your consciousness depends on the blood flow to your brain: cerebral, vertebral, meningeal arteries. Plus cardiac output may increase and mean systemic pressure may increase according to the frank-starling mechanism which will probably even out the steady state to near normal levels despite overall increased blood pressure. That all depends on the reaction of the cigarette nicotine in the heart, where normally nicotine acts on muscarinic receptors by vagal stimulation? Wait... is that right?

    In any case, must research further. Will get back on this.

    Marty: The future, it's where you're going?
    Doc: That's right, twenty five years into the future. I've always dreamed on seeing the future, looking beyond my years, seeing the progress of mankind. I'll also be able to see who wins the next twenty-five world series.
  • KreutzKreutz Registered User regular
    Paladin wrote: »
    i would actually think smoking would not be helpful, since nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, thus reducing blood flow to parts of your body...



    you can try changing your "scanning" pattern up. if you find yourself staring ahead for long stretches of driving, try looking around a bit more at your rear-views, your instrument panel, to the sides. not to the point where you're not paying attention of course, but enough where you're practicing defensive driving AND taking in the sights while you drive.

    i've found driving a bit more interesting after noticing weird things like giant cockroach sculptures in front of pesticide companies or, well, hot chicks walking or running.

    Vasoconstriction decreases overall blood flow by increasing resistance, but increases peripheral pressure, guaranteeing perfusion to distal parts of your body. Decreases capillary hydrostatic pressure though, which decreases filtration of blood in capillary nets.


    Doesn't matter, though. Your consciousness depends on the blood flow to your brain: cerebral, vertebral, meningeal arteries. Plus cardiac output may increase and mean systemic pressure may increase according to the frank-starling mechanism which will probably even out the steady state to near normal levels despite overall increased blood pressure. That all depends on the reaction of the cigarette nicotine in the heart, where normally nicotine acts on muscarinic receptors by vagal stimulation? Wait... is that right?

    In any case, must research further. Will get back on this.

    Sounds like a great topic for a research paper, if it hasn't already been done.

  • SporkedSporked Registered User
    Al_wat wrote: »
    Fixing fuses is like the easiest thing in the world and takes 1 minute

    A blown fuse is not just an issue to be fixed, it is often (usually) a symptom of a deeper issue that needs to be fixed.

    That said, I made a playlist that is about 3/4 upbeat stuff from random genres and about 1/4 of this song:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD_QexnZ3oM


    Shuffle and play. NO ONE can fall asleep (or stay still and not grin like a retard) while this song is playing. It's just that awesome.

    A live version with multiple encores is your best bet. Seriously.

  • stevemarks44stevemarks44 Registered User regular
    Sporked wrote: »
    Al_wat wrote: »
    Fixing fuses is like the easiest thing in the world and takes 1 minute

    A blown fuse is not just an issue to be fixed, it is often (usually) a symptom of a deeper issue that needs to be fixed.

    I blew it trying to jump a completely dead battery, frustrated, without making sure it was grounded, it was a total stupidity error on my part.

    I know they're simple, I just haven't had time.

    2eg8oiu.jpg
  • SporkedSporked Registered User
    Sometimes the deeper issue is user error, which is indeed pretty easy to fix ;)

  • FiziksFiziks Registered User
    It might make other people drowsy, but I find classical or jazz music helps to keep me awake. It's a free-flowing music that keeps your mind going unlike hook-based contemporary music.

    Cvcwu.jpg
  • hotlunchhotlunch Awaiting Email Confirmation
    There are ways to get nicotine without smoking, I like snus personally for long road trips, helps keep me awake without having to chief cigarettes the whole trip. Theres a bunch of other products marketed towards quitting that are a smokeless nicotine fix. Just in case you wanna look into it. I get really sleepy driving sometimes too, especially if its hot out. Make sure you're drinking lots of water, I think being all dried out in the car makes me tired.

  • KruiteKruite Registered User regular
    I recently did a 24 hour drive. Whenever you stop for a restroom break, ask for a big ol cup of ice. Loud rock music and chewing on ice cubes really helps keep you active. In addition, make a game of keeping track of the miles, signs, and vehicles around you.

  • GrimmGrimm Registered User
    I installed a CB in my truck. Not only are they great for updates on traffic and where the speed traps are, it gives you someone to talk to when your falling asleep.

  • KylethePeonKylethePeon Registered User
    Dr. Pepper and lots of it.

    Never take life seriously, no one gets out alive anyway.
This discussion has been closed.