If you have a long distance to travel, you may be wondering if driving is reasonable. Twelve hours is definitely a long time to spend in the car, and a road trip
of this length may not be very fun, but is it safe?
Twelve hours is too long to drive safely in one day for one driver. Typically, you shouldn’t drive more than 500 miles (804.67 km) in one day, and twelve hours is approximately 600 miles (965.6 km). You shouldn’t drive more than eight hours a day.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss if twelve hours is too long to drive and how to make such a journey safely. I’ll also provide some tips on making a long road trip safer and more enjoyable.
Is 12 Hours Too Long for a Road Trip?
Twelve hours is too long for a road trip if you plan to make the journey in one day with only one driver. For one driver, you should divide the journey into two days. If you have more than one driver, twelve hours in one day is reasonable.
If you have just one driver and twelve hours’ worth of distance to cover, you should not attempt to make the trip in one day. Twelve hours divided over two days is a reasonable amount of driving.
Excessive Distance Contributes to Drowsy Driving
The biggest risk of driving for twelve hours in one day is that you will get tired and drift off while driving, resulting in an accident, injury, or even death. Unless you drive professionally, it is very likely that you won’t be able to stay alert for more than eight hours, especially if much of the distance is boring highway miles.
Driving on the highway is often monotonous, so it is easy to zone out and not even notice how tired you’re getting until you’re already drifting off. Driving in this state is extremely dangerous because you cannot pay attention to the road and what’s around you, and it slows your reaction time.
Recognize the Signs of Driving Fatigue
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that drowsy driving was responsible for 91,000 crashes in 2017, which resulted in 50,000 injuries and almost 800 deaths, so this is a serious issue.
If you’re driving and you notice the following signs, pull over immediately and make a plan to get some rest:
- Frequent yawning
- Eyes watering
- Missing your exit
- Hitting the rumble strip repeatedly
- Drifting
- Zoning out
It is a lot safer to divide twelve hours of driving between two days. Alternatively, if you have another driver with you, driving twelve hours in one day is reasonable if each driver gets enough rest.
There is no legal limit for how long you can drive for personal travel, but a limit of nine hours is the recommendation. Professional truck drivers are legally only allowed to drive for eleven hours before taking a ten-hour break, which is important to keep in mind when attempting a long drive. If a professional can’t drive for longer than eleven hours, should you?
Tips for a Long Road Trip
Long drives can be a drag, but there are ways to make them safe and fun. Here are my best tips for a successful road trip:
- Make sure you have plenty of entertainment prepared. You’ll need a road trip playlist to keep yourself alert while you’re driving. You should also have some good audiobooks or podcasts downloaded. Just make sure you choose something that won’t be too distracting while you’re driving.
- Get enough sleep the night before. You should never start a drive when you’re tired. Make sure you get plenty of rest before attempting a long drive, especially if you’re the only driver.
- Start early in the morning. You shouldn’t start so early that you’re still tired, but you should start early to make use of daylight hours, so you’re awake and fresh during the drive.
- Stay hydrated. In an effort to prevent excessive bathroom breaks, you may be tempted to avoid drinking very much. Still, you should make an effort to stay hydrated during your drive. Drinking enough water will help you stay energized and alert for longer.
- Enjoy your road trip snacks, but be smart about it. Eating junk food is classically part of the road trip experience, but excessive amounts of carbs and refined sugars can lead to a sugar crash. For the best experience, balance your not-so-healthy road trip snacks with some healthier options, such as bananas or baby carrots.
- Take breaks often. You might want to limit the number of breaks you take so you get to your destination quicker, but this is a mistake. You should take a five-minute break at least every two hours, and this is the bare minimum. In general, you should take a break whenever you feel like it, within reason. The ultimate goal is to get to your destination safely, and you risk not achieving this goal if you don’t give yourself enough breaks.
- Always refill your gas tank before it gets below ¼ tank. Don’t let your gas tank get too empty! You don’t want to be stranded on the side of the highway because you ran out of gas.
- Get your car checked before you go. Before a road trip is a great time to get your oil changed and any other maintenance you may have been putting off doing. You want to make sure your car is at its best before you’re driving it for twelve hours!
- Chew gum. Chewing gum can help you stay alert when you drive.
- Watch your posture. Slumping can encourage drowsiness, so if you feel yourself getting tired, check your posture and sit up straight.
Road trips can be a ton of fun, but most importantly, they should be safe. Following these tips is a great way to ensure that you get to your destination safe and sound.
Conclusion
Twelve hours is a long time to spend in the car, but it is a reasonable trip to make in one day if (and only if) you have multiple drivers. If you just have one driver, you should divide a twelve-hour drive between two days to ensure that you have enough rest and don’t put yourself at risk of drowsy driving.