Tiredness can kill. Take a break.

[directhex]

But where? We've all seen the signs telling us to stop for a rest, but where are we meant to stop? Here's an example - on Tuesday, I drove back from Dover to my parents' house, a 140 mile trip down the M20, M25, and M40.

For a 140 mile trip, I like to take a break halfway (which is about every hour, fair enough having already driven a few hundred miles in France). The first service station on the route is 35 miles in, Maidstone Roadchef on the M20. The second is Vlacket Lane Roadchef on the M25, 60 miles in. By Clacket Lane, i'm feeling fresh enough to carry on a little longer - I prefer to have more road behind me than in front if I'm stopping halfwayish, it makes me feel like less of a wuss.

After Clacket Lane is... road. 80 miles of it. At the maximum legal speed, over an hour nonstop. Down the M25, onto the M40, off at junction 7, then country lanes until final destination.

The experience is pretty similar, and at least equally harrowing, driving back from Gatwick having flown the transatlantic red-eye to my old house (75 miles from Gatwick to Welcome Break Oxford on M40 junction 8a).

What kind of cynical sadist puts up signs warning you to take a break - then provides absolutely no safe place to do so for hours at a time? If one place is closed for some reason, then you're REALLY buggered

I spent a week driving in France. Say what you want about the French, but one thing they do 100% right is stopping on the motorway. A safe place to pop out for a pee and to stretch your legs every 4 miles or so, and a proper full-on services every 20 miles or so.

Why must the British approach be so bloody broken?

[GAteKeeper]

Land. France has ~same population and well over twice the land area - pushing on 3times.

Other than that I agree, plus half of UK serivce stations are frankly disgusting. French 'Aire's are mostly really nice places to stop, only time I had a bad experience was because the motorway had only been open a year or so so the trees hadnt had a chance to grow and provide shade etc.

GK

[staffsMike]

If I need to I just leave the motorway and find somewhere adequate to stop. Services are few and far between but most junctions usually have a lay by within a few hundred meters I find. If you just need a pee (in a toliet of course ) or a rest, it works well enough.

[TeePee]

Rest stops are good in the US. Clean 'Restrooms' and a place to park up for the night, but as it's state provided, no petrol station or shop. But they do have armed security!

[staffsMike]

But they do have armed security!

To fend off the armed civilians no doubt

[schmunk]

A safe place to pop out for a pee and to stretch your legs every 4 miles or so,

You should probably see a doctor about that...

[piggeh]

There's some website called 5 minutes away which provides alternatives to service statinos within a 5 minute drive (dur) of the motorway junction which is handy. Although I agree, we could do with a few more service stops.

[Rave]

I agree there should be more. I've found myself on the motorway struggling to stay awake but 10-15 miles from the next service station. There's not much you can do in that situation apart from opening the windows, slapping yourself round the face a few times, and pressing on. It's quite a while since I undertook a long journey late at night but next time I will certainly have an emergency energy drink or two in the car with me.

[mycarsavw]

...It's quite a while since I undertook a long journey late at night but next time I will certainly have an emergency energy drink or two in the car with me.

So that when you do eventually get to take that pee, it'll be neon

[J4MES]

Why must the British approach be so bloody broken?

Seriously? Plan your journey if you know get tired - if you nodded off would you blame the lack of (rubbish, expensive, dirty) service areas?? If you can't take your break at the half-way point, take it earlier. If you can't manage it, just come off at a convenient junction

But putting a sign up where there isn't services - that is not clever. 'Need a Pee? Next Services 48 miles. Unlucky'

Try this...

[directhex]

so all the average driver needs to stay awake is to either know in advance what traffic is like (so you can know in advance when you'll be at which junctions), or a laptop on your lap with 3g connection to surf some (admittedly nice looking) wobsite. handy!

[Betty_Swallocks]

Well that's where my HTC comes in handy.

Bloody useful site. That's going in my favourites on my phone. Thanks for the link J4mes

[TeePee]

The best way to stay awake is to hold your arm outside the window while holding a £20 note.

You'll stay awake, trust me!

[staffsMike]

The best way to stay awake is to hold your arm outside the window while holding a £20 note.

You'll stay awake, trust me!

nice.

What happens if you drop it though.. could get nasty.