Why And When To Take Breaks During Long Journeys By Car?

Apr 13 2020 Why and When to Take Breaks During Long Journeys by Car?

Are you about to take a long drive? During your trip, don't forget to take regular breaks to limit the risk of accidents on the road. How long to stop? What to do during your break? What are the signs that it's time to take a break from the road? Find out everything you need to know.

Taking Breaks on the Road: Why is it Important?

Taking regular breaks during a long journey is essential for safety reasons, whether for you or any passengers accompanying you. Long journeys by car are indeed tiring. Over the hours, the attention of driver’s decreases and fatigue is felt. In certain cases, for example in the event of significant fatigue, it is not uncommon for drivers to experience short moments of drowsiness. These can have harmful consequences, such as an involuntary steering wheel movement or, much worse, a serious accident. To limit the risk of accident, it is recommended to stop every 2 hours and more frequently if you drive at night. If you really do not want to stop so as not to slow your progress, you must give the wheel to another driver if there is one. This is the only case where you can continue the journey without interruption (except for the change of driver).

What are the signs that it's time to take a break from your car journey?

Learn to identify the signs that should motivate a break during a long drive . Stops are necessary in the event of:

1. Drowsiness noted by the driver or passengers,
2. Repetitive yawning,
3. Itchy eyes,
4. Heavy eyelids,
5. Difficulty concentrating,
6. Stare,
7. Pain / stiffness in the neck and / or shoulders,
8. Feeling of discomfort and difficulty finding a comfortable position.

These different signs often appear more quickly when you have late sleep, have been awake for too long or drive between 2h and 5h or between 13h and 15h (these slots correspond to hours of sleep in the first case and hours of digestion in the second). Note that prolonged highway driving also affects attention due to its monotonous nature.

How long should breaks on the road last?

It is recommended to stop for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 hours. This period can of course be longer when you stop to eat. Depending on how tired you are, you can extend your break times and allow yourself some nap time.

How to organize your breaks well?

Discover some tips for taking your breaks at the right time and in the right places.

Prepare your Itinerary:

Before the day of departure, take the time to locate your route, and why not program your GPS. In particular, be aware of the portions of your journey where the risk of traffic jams is high in order to choose the geographic areas most suitable for stopping. Cut your journey into 2, 3, 4 parts, or even more depending on its length.

Set up Alerts:

In order not to forget to take breaks during the journey, you can set alerts on your phone. Schedule a "wake up call" every two hours. When it rings, immediately seek a break or another place suitable for rest.

Do not Set an Arrival Time:

Focusing on a time of arrival sometimes encourages committing some carelessness on the road, like driving faster than necessary or skipping the break times which are essential to reduce the risk of accident. Do not impose this unnecessary stress on yourself and rather provide a (wide) range regarding the time of arrival. If you are expected, simply send a message during one of your breaks to warn of a possible delay.

What to do during breaks on your long journeys?

The breaks during a long drive to be utilized to:

1. Going to the bathroom, this especially concerns children,
2. Stretch your legs, walking a little for example,
3. Take a nap, especially if you feel tired and have a sleep debt,
4. Eat a full meal or snack on the go. If you are on a highway rest area with tables outside, do not hesitate to sit outside to take advantage of the good weather.

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