When was the last time you left on a trip with plenty of sleep? A driver from Tenaha, TX was in Eloy, AZ. He had just completed 6 hours of sleep. He had slept 8 hours in El Paso and 14 hours at home in Tenaha, TX before leaving on the trip. His delivery was for San Diego and he had plenty of time to make his appointment. However, he fell sleep at mile marker 8 on Interstate 8 only a few miles down the road from Eloy. 

My question to you, "Is it possible to stack sleep for a future need?" Or put another way, "Is it possible to rest ahead by sleeping in advance of the need for sleep?" It would seem that this driver had plenty of rest to finish out his trip but instead, he went to sleep while driving and turned over. His cargo of shelled pecans were scattered over half of Arizona. The tractor and trailer were totaled. With the exception of the normal bumps and bruises, he was not injured. 

Several conclusions can be drawn from this accident for all of us: 

   1.    Sleep begets sleep. The more you get - the more you want. I still marvel that you can not store or stack electricity. It is there for use, but if the energy plant goes down, it is gone. Sleep is available when needed, but it can not be stored or stacked. 

   2.    Sleeping ahead for a change of schedule such as night driving does not always work. For a few hours the first night, it might help, but your body will revert back to its original schedule. 

   3.    It seems that it is best to take an advance nap and then trade out with your co-driver through the change for the first day. The body is then tired and will rest properly thus preparing you to now meet the change head-on. 

   4.    Prepare yourself for driving while you are still at home. Start a day prior to leaving adjusting to your driving schedule on the road. Your family will understand and will appreciate your preparation. 

Rule of thumb: You give five - they give five - you stay alive. 

That's the way I see it - Bob Hataway - TransAlive.