subject: When a Break is Needed [print this page] When a Break is Needed When a Break is Needed
Have you ever had that feeling while driving like you were so tired that you weren't even sure if you were just dreaming that you were driving? When I was in graduate school and was conducting field research approximately four hours away from the University, I had just helped some other faculty members with a museum exhibit opening. Because such a large turnout was expected, we had stayed up all night for 48 hours in order to finish up last minute changes. By the time the exhibit opened and had been a success, most people were anxious to get back to their homes, which were hours away. I was no different; and when all was said and done and I was in my car fueled up and on the road back, I had been awake and working for well over 50 hours.
The first ten minutes of my drive back to Raleigh, NC from the Outer Banks of North Carolina were fine. However, the remaining 3+ hours of my drive, to this day, are a complete mystery. I have no idea how I got back to Raleigh. I distinctly remember waking up the next day in my bed and wondering where I was. After a few minutes, I actually had to walk out to my car to make sure I was really back in Raleigh. I began to wonder about my own sanity and whether or not it was safe for me to be driving anymore. Ever since that trip back to Raleigh on no sleep, I have since vowed to never drive when I am exhausted or when I haven't had sufficient sleep. If you have ever been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and have driven back over the mainland in the direction of Raleigh, then you know that there are points during that trip where there are long stretches of one-lane, country roads- road that are highly populated with deer and other wildlife. It is a wonder that I didn't get into a car accident.
If that is the case, how was it that someone like me was able to still navigate their way back to Raleigh- some place that was over three hours away from where I originally started? It is both baffling, amusing, shocking and disturbingly terrifying all at once. How I made it back safely, I will never know. Today, looking back on that incident in my life (or 'incident-free' incident), I cannot help but believe that there was something or someone watching over me- especially after I made the stupid decision to drive back while so exhausted.
If you are ever in a situation where you know that you have to make a long trip or drive somewhere that is not within a five minute radius, you should always make sure that you are well rested. Each year, there are more and more incidences of drivers who are killed and who wind up killing or seriously injuring others due to the fact that they are not well rested; so do yourself and others around you a favor by getting some sleep.
