On my long solo drives from NJ to MA, I sometimes get tired and drowsy. This can be very dangerous! Between 2011 and 2015, some 2.5% of driving fatalities are due to drowsy driving. I recognize this and plan accordingly, and mostly that involves coffee and sugar. I'll get a cup of strong coffee and a bag of M & Ms or some bite-sized candy. The drowsiness for me lasts about 20-30 minutes, and at highway speeds, it can be harrowing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the late afternoon is problematic since most people experience a dip in circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep. This is about the time I experience drowsiness. It's interesting to me that this dip in energy doesn't occur when I'm working in front of the computer, but clearly I can't use my computer while driving. (At least not until the robot cars arrive!)
Another thing that helps is singing. I put on some music that I know and I sing along. Rolling the windows down helps as well. Pulling into a rest stop helps also. Taking a quick nap (after setting an alarm) is recommended, but I have not done this in the interest of keeping on schedule. However, napping can become a necessity if I realize I'm losing my drowsiness battle.
On my last trip, I decided to try a 5-hour energy drink. These are those shot bottles (two ounces) with mildly garish colors that show a silhouette of a man running, presumably thanks to all the energy from this drink. It advertised 200mg of caffeine. I try to avoid caffeine after 1 PM, to avoid problems falling asleep later at night. Because of this I had only half of the energy shot.
With this one experiment, I report that this little boost allowed me to drive through the drowsy time more easily. I was energized enough to feel more alert and safer. I was glad to try out this drink, and I think I'll use it again on my next long drive.
