How to drive nine hours safely?

Question

I am 20 years old and my parents wouldn't let me drive nine hours. My boyfriends birthday Is this weekend and I want to be there for it. How to go about this safely? I have driven six hours before with the company of two people but this time I have to go alone. How do I do this without my parents finding out and how do I do it as safe as possible

Answer 1

Your city and destination city would be helpful.

Mileage would be helpful.

9 hours on Google can turn into 12 hours, real time.



So, if your trip takes you through NYC (or any large city), you may want to consider a major detour.



I need to stop every 60 to 90 mins for a bio break.

You will need to stop for gas, once. Maybe twice.

You can save time by planning gas and lunch at the same time.



If you feel your head bobbing, stop the car and walk around it.

If you get tired, stop and take a nap. Go to a rest stop.



I would drink caffeine (coffee, Coke or Pepsi) to help stay awake.

There are caffeine pills, but I didn't like them.



Your parents will know.

It is not like you can be gone for a couple hours and no one will miss you.

I would plan an overnight stay.

You can't make a return trip without a good night's sleep.

Even if it is 9 hours.

For some reason, traveling saps your energy. You'll be more tired than you think.



You should consider driving with a friend.

Or, take a bus, plane, or train.

Answer 2

I have to ask what is the mileage of this trip you say nine hour drive

For some people that can be 400 mile sand others 800 miles

Is this nine hours including stopping for fuel and restroom and eating time or is it

plus all the needed stops

What kind of gas mileage do you get

To get a decent answer you need to input all of this

1. how many miles total

2. where are leaving from and going to

3. What kind of gas mileage do you get

4 is 9 hours driving time only or is it include fuel and other reasons to stop

Without this info no one can give you any solid info as it is all speculating that you are driving nine hours and a 100 miles When it may be 4 hours of stop and go traffic and only be 600 miles

Answer 3

You should fly if there are airports within reasonable distance. At 600 miles, it will likely cost close to as much in gas (if not more) than to fly, not to mention wear on the vehicle. - Oh i just saw that you can not afford it, but check on the prices and gas stuff, because it may not be as expensive as you think.



If you do drive, just take lots of breaks. If your parents are worried make a plan of where you are going to stop and when to check in with them - and of course stick to the plan. Have a plan if you get tired and need to sleep. But that comes down to the individual. Some people can easily drive for 12 hours without a problem, other people start to get really tired after an hour or two.



My guess is that the trip with likely take closer to 10 hours + breaks, so you are looking at what should be closer to 12 hours of travel time.

Answer 4

First of all, as we mention on the forum very often, online map programs don't do a good job of including required stops into their estimates, so that 1000 mile trip will likely take about 9 hours .



But 1000 miles is way too far for a solo driver in a single day. Its unlikely you could travel that distance safely in that timeframe, and even if you did, you'd still be feeling the effects by the time you'd try your climb.



There is no one size fits all rule, and age and experience will certainly play a role in your personal limits, and you can go a little bit farther on a one day sprint when compared to a multi-day trip but the following guidelines should be considered.



500 miles is close to ideal.



600 is a very long day and for a solo traveler, really should be pretty close to the limit. It is also roughly the limit that professional drivers are allowed to travel in a day because of safety laws.



700 miles starts to really get into the grueling stage, and really can't be recommended for a solo driver.



800 or more starts putting you over the 9 hour mark on the road, and really isn't recommended even if you have multiple drivers.

Answer 5

Best thing you can do is take a friend with you and swap every few hours. Get your friend a hotel for the weekend as thanks so you can have time with your boyfriend. its really the safest way.

But if you can't do that then maybe try stopping every few hours to take a nap, do some calisthenics and walk around. I get drowsy easily when driving and this usually helps me to stay awake when i start feeling myself nod off. Having a drink or a crunchy snack can also help, but make sure its something easy to eat while driving so you can grab them easily.

Answer 6

Who owns the vehicle you're planning to drive on this trip, Brittany? Who pays the gas, insurance, maintanence, and taxes on it? In whose name is the vehicle registered? If you own the vehicle and maintain it yourself, and pay the insurance on it, then it really isn't your parents' concern what you do with it. IF, HOWEVER, your PARENTS are the ones who own the car and it's registered in one or both of their names, then they have every right to decide whether you can drive it or not, regardless of the length of time that you want to drive.



Why is it so important that you DRIVE to see your boyfriend? There are other ways to get where you want to go that are much faster and safer than driving. You can fly, go by train, or take a bus- and that's just for starters. There's more going on here than you're telling us, Brittany. And for your information, your parents are smart not to allow you to drive what is probably THEIR CAR for so many hours by yourself. Driving is extremely TIRING, Brittany, especially when you do it for hours at a time without interruptions or breaks. Safety experts who work for the government and various health agencies generally recommend that you stop every 2 hours or so on a long trip and take a 15 to 30 minute break, and that no one should drive more than about 8 hours a day, maximum. The purpose for taking frequent breaks, beyond the obvious physical benefits, is to allow your brain some down time. Driving requires constant alertness, and that in itself is very fatiguing to your mind.



If you must take such a long trip, you need to PLAN AHEAD and decide well in advance what your route will be, both going and coming home. You also need to get the car checked out by a mechanic to be sure it is roadworthy BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME. Plan on taking a cooler with your lunch and plenty of NON ALCOHOLIC drinks- staying hydrated helps to prevent fatigue and what the experts call "highway hypnosis". And BE SMART, not sorry, and DON'T DRIVE without your parents' knowledge or permission. Do you even realize that your parents are within their rights to report the car as STOLEN if they come home and find you've taken off with it? You could easily get pulled over by the cops and arrested for theft, and car theft is a FELONY, Brittany. Instead of spending the weekend with your boyfriend, you could very well end up spending it in the slammer if you take off in your parents' car without asking them. You're not a little kid anymore- you're a grown woman now. So how about ACTING THE PART, and cutting out the sneaky behavior? Getting arrested and charged with grand theft auto is not the way to impress anybody, and I am sure I don't need to tell you that. If you are in college, the college administration won't look kindly on such behavior, and you could end up getting suspended or even expelled from school. I grew up in the midwest, near Purdue University in Indiana, and every year I was growing up, there were always a few kids who got kicked out of the university for pulling stunts like the one you're describing in your question. And it isn't just colleges which are less than impressed by such behavior- pulling a stunt like this and getting arrested for it could hurt your chances of getting a JOB once you get out of school- assuming you even manage to finish, that is. Employers don't like and aren't impressed by people who have criminal records, and they don't hire them. You need to ask yourself if taking off in your folks' car without telling them is really worth the potential price you could pay. If this were me, I'd be saying heck no, but you need to make up your own mind.



PS: Just as a matter of curiosity, how come you posted this question in the "Cats" section? It has nothing to do with cats.

Answer 7

Drive with the window open, and take regular breaks. It is easier than you think to fall asleep at the wheel.

Answer 8

Leave early, and take plenty of breaks along the way.

Answer 9

Cats? lol You should listen to your parents.