Why is it easy to fall asleep in a moving car?

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G.T

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Paganisterr
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Sitting in a car while it's moving makes me fall asleep quite easily, even when it's morning when I'm not particularly tired. Anywhere else it can take me more or less around half an hour to get to sleep, probably the most difficult place being in bed itself. I would have thought being in a car with all the noise and harsh suspension (being a Civic) would have the opposite effect to what I receive. To be honest I'm a tad afraid if I have to do any long journeys of my own one day...

Any reason why?
 
Probably because you're comfortable, warm, your mind is unstimulated and the constant rocking movement and noise lulls you into feeling tired. Or it's possibly a medical issue.

I guess.

Does it happen moreso on motorways?

When you drive yourself, you're concentrating on driving, so you have something to keep your mind occupied. The most dangerous time is on the motorway/dual carriageway, either at night or after a heavy meal - not much to do driving-wise and at the time you feel tiredest. (Made up word much?)
 
Yeah, motor/dual carriageways are worse. It still happens elsewhere, but hardly around town. Probably because there is more to look at.

I just find it hard to believe all the noise and activity makes me feel sleepy, night or day, it's exactly the same.
 
I always fall asleep in the passenger seat on roadtrips. I think I get hypnotized by the road because I have no driving responsibilities.
 
I'd think it's rooted in an evolutionary advantage, something developed millenia ago when we were still living in trees. It would have been to our benefit to be able to fall asleep on something that's rustling and swaying (like a branch) if it kept us safe from predators on the ground.
 
I have rarely fallen asleep in a car, probably partly because I'm not willing to. But I do notice that after hard physical work/not a lot of eating/a short night sleep, I do get very tired. Otherwise, I'm fine.

Do you have the same problems on planes? I fall right asleep when I don't want to if I'm tired, but can't when I want to no matter how tired I am.
 
I presume you mean a commercial plane - I've never been on a commerical plane before, but I've been in a two seater. I didn't feel sleepy in that at all.
 
I don't think I've ever fallen asleep in a car. I'd assume it's because you're warm, fairly comfortable and pretty bored, though.
 
I can't fall asleep in a car. Have any of you ever driven in Missouri? :dopey:

philly_cheese
Do you have the same problems on planes? I fall right asleep when I don't want to if I'm tired, but can't when I want to no matter how tired I am.
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Isn't that the truth? If the temprature is just right, I'll drift off.
 
Please let me know when you pass your test and, then, whenever and wherever you're driving.
 
The noise and vibration and heat remind you of your mother's womb. It makes you feel safe and secure, hence you fall asleep.

Or something...
 
I actually have trouble sleeping as the passenger, because I pay way too much attention to the other driver's habits and such. Its mostly because I tend to be a much more aware driver and, not to brag, more capable driver.

Though, put Public Radio on and I'll generally crash in moments - trained myself to sleep to it from riding with my dad when I was younger.
 
I am so so when it comes to falling asleep in cars. After about 20 trips from NH to FL by van I had to learn to sleep in a moving vehicle.

Speaking of falling asleep, why is it so easy to fall asleep in school as well. Ive missed so many key points in my trig class because I fell asleep, and sometimes it's not even my fault. I'll just be looking at the screen then wake up 40 minutes later "dammit!".
 
Do you have an exhaust leak? That can be bad.



My wife almost always falls asleep in the passenger seat too, unless we are driving on curvy back roads. Then she throws up without fail.
 
I can't fall asleep in a car, plane, train, bus, I never have been able to.
 
Sleeping in a car during long road trips = awesome.

Except when driving of course. :dopey:
 
Diablo'
Speaking of falling asleep, why is it so easy to fall asleep in school as well. Ive missed so many key points in my trig class because I fell asleep, and sometimes it's not even my fault. I'll just be looking at the screen then wake up 40 minutes later "dammit!".
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How does that work? I know it's boring and all, but how can your body let yourself fall asleep when you really need to be awake? In calculus, there were days where I would look around and only see two or three other people awake.

But then again, I can generally sleep whenever I want to and not sleep whenever I don't want to and not be totally tired from it.
 
FoolKiller
Do you have an exhaust leak? That can be bad.
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Nope. It's always happened to me in all several cars my parents have owned...

Just to make things a little clearer, usually within 5-10 minutes I become dozy, sometimes to the extent when it's at the end of the day where I honestly can't focus properly unless someone speaks to me or distupts me. It's almost like a trance.
 
philly cheese
How does that work? I know it's boring and all, but how can your body let yourself fall asleep when you really need to be awake? In calculus, there were days where I would look around and only see two or three other people awake.

But then again, I can generally sleep whenever I want to and not sleep whenever I don't want to and not be totally tired from it.
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It's probably because of a number of things. I don't get much sleep and most of the time have to wake up at 3:00-4:00AM to study or get work done. Depending on how early i wake up, i cant eat breakfast, nor do i eat lunch. Trig is my last class of the day and having four 90min classes allows for some pretty long naps.

Lets put it this way, I had to focus all my energy on just staying awake in trig today.
 
daan
The noise and vibration and heat remind you of your mother's womb. It makes you feel safe and secure, hence you fall asleep.

Or something...
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Yes, car aircons represent the warmness of a womb so well. I suppose the cigarette charger is a bit like the placenta, plug in once in a while to keep yourself topped up...
 
FoolKiller
Do you have an exhaust leak? That can be bad.
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That's a nasty way to go... especially bad on old trucks when you've got the windows rolled up...

My wife almost always falls asleep in the passenger seat too, unless we are driving on curvy back roads. Then she throws up without fail.
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Uh... aren't you supposed to drive nicer when your significant other is in the significant other seat? :lol:

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It's monotony. Sheer, utter monotony that makes you fall asleep. The drone of the engine, the body motion of the car, the unending expanse of concrete/asphalt/dirt/whatever unfolding in front of you...

You're in an enclosed space, you're stuck in one position and you're not moving... your body relaxes, your breathing slows down... zzzzzzz...

It's the same reason some people fall asleep in class... sitting in one position, listening to those bloody boring teachers drone on and on and on... For some classes, I actually had to schedule at least three bathroom breaks (just for an excuse to get up and walk) to get through them without nodding off.
 
niky
It's monotony. Sheer, utter monotony that makes you fall asleep. The drone of the engine, the body motion of the car, the unending expanse of concrete/asphalt/dirt/whatever unfolding in front of you...

You're in an enclosed space, you're stuck in one position and you're not moving... your body relaxes, your breathing slows down... zzzzzzz...

It's the same reason some people fall asleep in class... sitting in one position, listening to those bloody boring teachers drone on and on and on... For some classes, I actually had to schedule at least three bathroom breaks (just for an excuse to get up and walk) to get through them without nodding off.
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I think that's as good as explanation as we're going to come up with. Sleep comes easy during any "activity" where you're not moving, and your mind is not engaged.
 
My girlfriend always falls asleep but it's only on journeys that have long winding roads. Even on 15-20 min journeys she will sleep all the way there. When I ask her why she feels so tired she just says it's because of the road noise and the lack of scenery.
 
Im the opposite. I cant fall asleep in a car, train, coach etc... unless Im really tired. If I try to close my eyes in a moving car I start to feel a bit dizzy/sick.
 
niky
Uh... aren't you supposed to drive nicer when your significant other is in the significant other seat? :lol:
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It doesn't matter how I drive. Unless she is the person driving she gets sick on curvy roads. She gets motion sick very easy.
 
Sounds like me... (although it takes quite some doing to get me sick)... sometimes I actually make whoever's driving pull over just so I can get out of the passenger seat and drive... ;)
 

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