Date:         Thu, 17 Feb 2000 16:12:08 -0500
Reply-To:     LAWS HOME <backintime@TRITON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         LAWS HOME <backintime@TRITON.NET>
Subject:      SECRETS for staying awake
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There are NO secrets to staying awake while driving on long trips. Let me
qualify this by saying that "medically speaking" there isn't a SAFE way to
do this. Any and all such secrets are foolish, and FALSE. Even the
aforementioned caffeine,speed, no-doze etc. etc. Do not really make you more
alert while driving. If so then it would also apply to intoxication, i.e.
"coffee will sober you up" This is B.S. as well.  The only true "secret" is
getting regular rest (sleep) ANYONE who thinks that they can "beat " the
system is just fooling themselves, and endangering the lives of others while
doing so. Call me opinionated if you will , but this is just the facts
friends. What will enable you to do better is to do your driving at hours of
the day when you are "normally" awake, if you are used to going to bed at 10
p.m. then don't try starting your trip at 11 p.m. (because there is less
traffic) Your body is already on a schedule, use it!  I've driven many miles
in my Vanagon/busses ( did we ever decide on the plural of bus?) in the past
( required content)  however, 18-20 hours on the road w/o a break will kill
someone eventually. Take a 15-20 minute "rest" every 3-4 hours, stop and get
OUT of your vehicle and walk around. In a 24 hour period sleep 6-8 hours,
whatever your body is used to getting. I've got over a million "logged"
miles in a big truck and trust me, even sleeping in the bunk while your
co-driver is driving, you don't get sufficient "rest". (even if you trust
him/her) It's a matter of the vehicle rolling and bouncing. I can and have
in the past driven stretches of over 30 hours consecutively, but I WONT do
it anymore, it only takes one close call before you realize human life is
more important than ANY deadline or appointment. Even at 60mph. you can make
500 miles a day , with a lunch break, and taking a rest stop every 3 or 4
hours. Which brings up another point, don't eat "heavy meals" while
traveling. Take along fresh veggies to nibble on, put them in a cooler with
some boiled eggs, and cold water!  Have a fun and SAFE trip! Tom:~)