What are some good overnight driving tips for a 12 hour drive from Chicago to New York?
October 28, 2009 | Safety
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Re: “What are some good overnight driving tips for a 12 hour drive from Chicago to New York?”
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a great cd and coffee of course
When I passed my driving test my instructor told me the following for long night drives:-
1) Don’t listen to ‘talk radios’ - these chatting voices can actually send you to sleep!
2) Listen to loud music with a good beat OR music that you can sing along to.
3) Keep the window open, a good supply of constant fresh - not air-con air.
4) When you stop off at a service station for a comfort break, don’t park right up at the entrance. Park as far away as you can and RUN all the way there - this really shakes off the cobwebs. Have a coffee, do anything else you need to do and run or jog back to your car.
Make sure that you don’t listen to any music that will put you to sleep, but, if the anxiety really is a dominant factor, smooth jazz would be your best bet, audio-wise. As for refreshment, I would recommend something sweet, not just plain old water, it will trick you into reviving your senses if you drink something sweet. However, don’t eat anything to sweet, as it will make you thirsty and you’re going to waste a lot of time at the rest areas, compromising good time. Make sure your car smells great and make sure that you don’t eat and drink too much to make yourself uncomfortable, that’s not pleasant whatsoever when you’re in a car for 12 hours. Other than that, wear something comfortable, make sure you’re nice and clean and refreshed and I think you’ll actually enjoy the experience.
Wow, nighttime driving from NYC to Chicago. I drove to NYC and back by myself a couple of years ago, but made sure I did it as much in the daylight as possible. All I can say is get through Pennsylvania as quick as possible. Those hills are a killer. And you will be occasionally driving into direct sunlight (since you’ll be heading west). This can be a pain too, so try to have some great sunglasses. I was nearly blinded and almost decided to pull of the road and wait it out. But once you get thorugh Ohio, it’s all good. Pretty easy.
At about midnight (halfway between 6am and 6pm) i suggest just going into a lounge or like a place like club or something that would keep you awake.
Paying the tolls alone should be enough to keep you up.