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Rhode Island driving lesson · Distraction, Drowsiness & Emotions

Preventing Drowsiness & Resting Safely

A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Distraction, Drowsiness & Emotions
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
20, 21, 22

Drowsiness does not get better the longer you drive. The only real fix is rest. Plan sleep and stops before a trip, and learn which popular 'tricks' only buy you a few minutes.

Before you drive:

  • Get enough sleep: experts recommend 7 to 9 hours for adults and 8 to 10 hours for teens
  • Plan your route: total distance and stopping points
  • Take long trips with a companion driver; at least one passenger stays awake to talk
  • Avoid medications that cause drowsiness
Handbook p. 21 ↗
8–10 hours

Nightly sleep recommended for teens (adults: 7 to 9 hours)

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Once you're on the road:

  • Wear sunglasses against glare and eyestrain
  • Avoid heavy foods
  • Know your body's down times (circadian rhythm)
  • Take turns driving with a companion
  • Take periodic breaks: every 100 miles or every two hours
Handbook p. 22 ↗
10 minutes

Stop at least this long every two hours or 100 miles on a long trip

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Decide on a reasonable distance before you leave and stop driving when you reach it. No destination is worth the risk of drowsy driving.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

These do NOT prevent drowsiness longer than a few minutes:

  • Trying to tough it out
  • Playing music loudly
  • Driving faster or slower
  • Chewing gum or eating
  • Opening the windows or sunroof
  • Caffeine products, smoking products, turning up the AC
Handbook p. 22 ↗

Know the rule

Resting is by far the most effective way—and the only recovery strategy—to counter drowsiness. Drowsy driving does not improve with continued driving; the AAA Foundation notes drivers skip a needed 15–20 minute rest.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

If you must rest along the roadway:

  • Stop where security is present, or as far off the highway as possible
  • After dark, pick a populated, lighted area
  • Crack the windows for air, but not enough to allow entry
  • Lock all doors and turn off the engine
  • Turn on parking lights; turn off other electrical equipment
  • Afterward, walk a few minutes to be sure you're fully awake
Handbook p. 22 ↗
20 minutes

Sleeping longer than this can leave you groggy for at least five minutes after waking

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Put it into practice

Two hours into a night drive you keep yawning. Cranking the AC and drinking coffee will help only for minutes. Pull into a lighted, busy rest area, lock the doors, turn off the engine, rest, then walk around before you continue.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the recommended rule of thumb for taking breaks on a long drive?
  1. Stop every 50 miles or every 30 minutes
  2. Stop only when you feel drowsy
  3. Stop every 300 miles or every 5 hours
  4. Stop every 100 miles or every 2 hours

Answer: Stop every 100 miles or every 2 hours

A good rule of thumb is to stop every 100 miles driven or every two hours.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Which of these is described as an ineffective way to fight drowsiness while driving?
  1. Pulling over to rest
  2. Stopping for a short walk
  3. Playing music at high volume
  4. Getting adequate sleep beforehand

Answer: Playing music at high volume

Loud music, chewing gum, opening windows and caffeine are listed as ineffective for more than a few minutes; rest is the only real fix.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
How many hours of sleep per night do sleep experts recommend for teens?
  1. 8 to 10 hours
  2. 5 to 6 hours
  3. 6 to 7 hours
  4. 10 to 12 hours

Answer: 8 to 10 hours

Sleep experts recommend 7 to 9 hours for adults and 8 to 10 hours for teens.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
True or False: Sleeping for more than 20 minutes in a rest stop can leave you groggy for at least 5 minutes after waking.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook notes that sleeping more than 20 minutes can make you groggy for at least five minutes after awakening.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
True or False: Rest is described as the only effective recovery strategy to counter drowsiness.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Resting is by far the most effective way, and the only recovery strategy, to counter drowsiness.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
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