How Long Can A Person Drive Safely
Whether you’re a learner driver planning a road trip with family members to help you get your 120 hours of experience and fill out your log book, or you’re a P plater or fully-licensed driver going on a trip, you may be wondering how long a person can drive safely.
How long should you plan to drive each day, and how does being tired and driving for an extended period of time affect your driving abilities and reaction time? Find out now in this blog from LTrent Driving School.
You Shouldn’t Drive For More Than 2 Hours Without A Break – Stay Safe!
The longer you drive at once, the more likely fatigue is likely to set in, and you’ll be much more likely to make errors in judgment, pay less attention to the road, and become distracted while driving.
That’s why we recommend that you take a 15-minute break every 2 hours to break up your trip. You can take this time to stop and use the bathroom, grab a snack or a meal at a restaurant, fill up your car with gas, visit a Driver Reviver site in NSW, or even stop at a tourist destination in NSW for a quick look around.
In addition, you should not plan to drive for more than 8 hours per day in total if you’re the only one driving. Even if you drive for only 2 hours at a time while taking breaks every 15 minutes, it’s dangerous to try to drive for too long at once!
Taking turns with another driver is also a good option. You can switch shifts with the other driver every 2 hours, and take a nap, relax, listen to music, or just enjoy the ride as a passenger. This lets you cover more distance while making fewer stops, while ensuring you can still be alert and drive safely.
And remember, if you ever feel fatigued or tired, take a break and stop driving. Driving while fatigued is a leading cause of traffic accidents. Stay safe – it’s more important to get to your destination safely than it is to get there quickly!
Tips For Staying Alert & Driving Safely On Long Road Trips
Whether you’ll be driving on your own or swapping driving responsibilities between 2 or more people, there are a few tips you should follow to stay alert and drive safely on long road trips.
- Leave at sunrise – Driving during the day is a lot safer than driving at night, since you have a better view of your surroundings. Night driving is also more dangerous because you’re more likely to be tired and weary, and this could lead to drowsiness and distractions on long road trips.
- Take a nap – If you’re feeling seriously tired, pull over to a safe area and sleep for 15-30 minutes. Or, if you have multiple drivers with you, have one of them take over while you rest up.
- Listen to some tunes – Music can help with the monotony of driving long distances and keep you alert. Don’t turn it up too high, though – you want to stay alert to what’s happening on the road around you.
- Eat right – Do your best to eat healthy meals and avoid sugary and starchy snacks and drinks. A healthy meal will give you plenty of steady energy throughout the day, and you won’t “crash” and feel tired.
- Don’t use cruise control – If you turn cruise control off, you’ll have to pay more attention to your speed, and this means you’ll be more active and in tune with what’s happening on the road around you.
Want some more tips? Here are a few more guidelines from Service NSW that you can use to make your trip safer.
Need Help Learning How To Drive Safely? Come To LTrent Driving School
If you’re a learner about to go on a road trip, or you just want to learn more about defensive driving and how to drive safely, LTrent Driving School is here to help. Sign up for our NSW Safer Drivers Course today, and build the skills you need to drive safely for years to come.