Mythbusters

Myth: I'll be safer if I make the trip overnight because I'll avoid the daytime traffic.

Fact: You body has a normal 24-hour rhythm. If you are driving when you would normally be asleep you will be fighting yourself to stay awake. The chances of falling asleep at the wheel after the normal time you go to sleep, especially in the early hours of the morning, are very high.

Myth: It's a good idea to start the trip after work.

Fact: This is the worst time to begin your trip. You will have been mentally and physically active all day and you will be tired already, even though you don't realise it. The safest thing to do is to get a good night's sleep (about 7 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep) and start your journey the next morning.

Myth: Loud music will keep me awake.

Fact: This might help for a while but it won't help for long. Loud music might also distract you from the driving task or even send you to sleep!

Myth: A coffee or a caffeine drink will keep me awake.

Fact: Caffeine may help, but it is only a short-term solution and will have less affect the more often you use it. The long-term solution is to get some sleep.

Myth: Plenty of fresh air through the window will keep me awake.

Fact: This might give you a boost and help for a while, as might turning the air-conditioning on to cold. But if you're tired, sleep is the only solution.

Myth: Driver fatigue only happens to people taking long trips.

Fact: Any driver can suffer from fatigue, even on short trips. Broken sleep or too little sleep at night, sleep disorders (such as sleep apnoea, insomnia and narcolepsy), stress, very demanding physical or mental work, shift work, caring for children and the demands of daily life can all drain your energy. So, even before you get into the car, you need to judge if you are too tired to drive.

Myth: Certain drugs can keep me awake and alert and I can drive for longer.

Fact: Drugs such as speed, ecstasy and marijuana may create an artificial sense of alertness, but the fact is driving on drugs increases your chances of having a crash. In 2008, 20% of drivers and riders killed had detectable levels of drugs in their system.

Police now have the ability to test drivers for drugs, just like alcohol (visit drug drive site).

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