Have You Ever

[TWR]

Dropped to sleep whilst Driving your car?

[Baldric]

No.

[Buenchico]

When I was 'trade plating' (delivering cars across the country), a typical day was usually around 16 hours long (but often much longer, with my longest being 23½ hours), which I usually completed with no food or drink whatsoever. (There simply wasn't time to stop if I wasn't to end up stranded on the wrong side of the country).

Unsurprisingly then, I was often quite tired while driving but, one evening on the M25 I realised that I really, really had to stop for a break as I knew that I was falling asleep. That wasn't a problem though as I was approaching Jn 22 (London Colney) which has got several places to grab a coffee, so I made my mind up to leave the motorway there. However the traffic slowed to a crawl and then stopped. Then it started again and stopped again and so on. The next thing I knew I was being awakened by car horns as my car (travelling at walking pace in the queues) drifted across from one lane to another. Oops!

[Sycamore3House]

Living in the South West and at various locations. No matter how tired I am when I get to junction 31 of the M5 (the end of the m5). I know I am nearly home whether it was another hour and half to Cornwall or 40/45 mins to
Plymouth/South East Cornwall. That final bit of the drive was and is always the best.

[woofgang]

no never

[UKSWF]

In my much younger days as a Sales Rep I used to drive from 5.00am to 9.00pm most days. I must say the Rumble strips on the hard shoulder saved my bacon a few more times than I would like to admit. Crazy days in hindsight!

[237SJ]

Yes. When I started my job many years ago I used to drive back to Devon from London and there were a couple of times when I realised that just for a split second, I had been asleep on the M4 going towards Bristol. Luckily, I got used to the tiredness and it didn`t happen for long.

[RATTER15]

Yes, many times!

[tonyav]

I don't think I have. But have you ever driven anywhere ( maybe even a regular journey ) and then can't remember the journey.

[Zacs-Master]

Been close a few times. But never done it. I now take an apple with me and find that eating that stops me if I feel it coming on.

[Hymie]

No, but many years ago I drove from Bordeaux (France) to my home town in the Home Counties within 24 hours (including ferry crossing), with virtually no sleep. During the last few hours of the trip, I felt myself nodding off momentarily – with my head dropping forward with a momentary lapse of awareness of my surroundings.

Looking back, I consider myself lucky not to have crashed, and stupid to have continued a journey when I should have rested.

I do know someone lucky to be alive having crashed their car after falling asleep at the wheel – luckily no other vehicles were involved.

[Richard1966]

Landed at Gatwick at 2.00am last December after a 5 hour flight. Had hoped to sell on the plane but wast able to. On the M3 back town towards Dorset I had a couple of episodes of micro sleep and realised I needed to stop as soon as possible. Pulled into services near winchester and set an alarm for 40 minutes. Was asleep in the car in seconds. Woke when the alarm sounded and was fine for the rest of the journey. Very scary.

[Hymie]

I should add that that was long before the M25 was even planned (let alone built) – making the drive from Dover quite a journey in itself.

[askyourgran]

Have been very close, and pulled over to the first motorway stop. We'd been on a 2.am flight from Spain and we'd had no sleep, it was about 4.30am when we landed and got the car out of the long stay car-park at Luton to drive back to Milton Keynes. I don't recall any place to pull off the motorway for several miles, it was horrendous.

[Old_Geezer]

No. But I have been close on very rare occasions. Leave the window open, the radio on loud, keep being aware of the situation. Very worrying situation to find yourself in. Best to get off, have a large strong coffee, wait a while for it to kick in, before continuing.

[TWR]

We used to do a Trunk at night to Coatbridge Tony, on the return & in between Service many times I've thought, well the hell am I then seeing something I remember well bring you back.

[TWR]

OG, the best & safe thing to do is take 10mins nap, brings you around.

[jackthehat]

No.
I like to get my family to 'phone me every 20 minutes or so to check I'm awake.....:o)

[Old_Geezer]

Isn't that what you are asking folk if they've done ?

[ToraToraTora]

once, I had a long night and momentarily dropped off only for a second, then woke up on the grass verge but didn't hit anything.