A Field Guide to the Perfect Nap

Oftentimes we read plans by overzealous trippers to drive long hours to "get it all in" on their allotted vacation time. Every time a veteran road tripper will advise, "Don't do it."

What about those times in whichyou really do need to fit in a long day of driving? The Wall Street Journalhas a helpful article on taking naps.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...895301888.html

As you will read, how long of a nap you should take depends on what you need to accomplish. A power nap to get you another hour safely down the road? 10 to 15 minutes. Another 4 hours of driving until you bunk down for the night? Better make it 90 minutes.

Having a power nap to get a bit more gardening or pen pushing done is one thing but to take charge of a vehicle with other lives at stake is another ball game altogether.

How would you like to take a Greyhound bus from Boston to Los Angeles where the driver drove most of the day, each day, just having a power nap every few hours? Not me.

In the UK we have laws covering hours with which professional lorry driver have to conform. In essence they are limited to nine hours driving a day but must have a 45 minute break after 4.5 hours. Roughly, nine hours driving at a generous 60 miles per hours equals 540 miles for the day. And that is driving for driving sake not leisure included.

The law considers professional drivers are best limited to nine hours per day yet we read of drivers wishing to do a leisure trip of around 800 miles in a day some with kids in the back.

Make your own mind up.

The US has similar rules for professional long-haul treuckers and bus drivers. So does almost every major country where drivers could conceivably abuse the privilege of driving on public roads for extended periods. That such rules do not apply to individual/private drivers is certainly not an endorsement of their greater ability to drive such hours and distances.

While I would rather take a nap than keep driving in the face of even minimal fatigue, a nap is no substitute for adequate sleep and a reasonable limit on the number of hours or miles one tries to lay down. As has been pointed out on these forums before. Every one of the experienced drivers here has, at one time or another, put in too many hours or driven too many miles. And everyone of them has vowed: "Never again!"

AZBuck

Quote:

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"How would you like to take a Greyhound bus from Boston to Los Angeles where the driver drove most of the day, each day, just having a power nap every few hours? Not me."

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This is exactly what the study cited found. Taking a short nap can refresh someone doing thinking tasks, but trying to take repeated short naps over a period of hours is no substitute for genuine deep sleep.

The study found that a 90-minute nap in which the participant reached deep sleep was effective in 1) giving the sleeper necessary rest and 2) avoiding sleep "hangover" effects.

Taxi drivers still typically do 12 hour shifts (at least they do in Oz), though they do not cover the distances during that time. However, in cities, all the driving is in city traffic.

When I was driving taxis I drove from 1500 hrs to 0400 hrs next morning. During that time I would cover some 350 - 400 kms. We were told to take 'power naps' (20 mins) between jobs to stay alert. Three shifts a week would leave me absolutely exhausted. I did that for a couple of years... and yes, had a couple of minor mishaps during that time.

Lifey