Top tips to prevent falling asleep at the wheel IAM RoadSmart's advice on how to avoid the dangers of drowsy driving: Extreme tiredness can lead to micro-sleeps - a short episode of drowsiness or sleep that could last a fraction of a second or up to 30 seconds. A car driving at 70 mph will travel 31 meters per second, giving plenty of time to cause a serious crash during a micro-sleep.
It’s good practise to stop at least every two hours and it’s essential to take a break before the drowsiness sets in. Plan an overnight stop. If you feel too fatigued to carry on driving, book yourself into a hotel at the next service station and sleep it off. It’s good to note that a caffeine high may be a quick fix, but it is not a long term solution and certainly no substitute for proper sleep.