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Can I drive on 2 hours of sleep?

Putting drowsy driving in perspective Does this mean that it is safe to drive if you sleep for only two hours? The answer to this question is an emphatic no.



Driving on only two hours of sleep is extremely dangerous and is legally and physiologically comparable to driving while intoxicated. Research indicates that getting less than four hours of sleep in a 24-hour period increases your crash risk by over 11 times. With only two hours of rest, your reaction times, coordination, and judgment are severely impaired. You are also at extremely high risk for "microsleeps"—brief, uncontrollable episodes of sleep lasting up to 30 seconds that can occur without warning while your eyes are still open. In many jurisdictions, including parts of the U.S. and Australia, driving while severely fatigued can lead to "reckless driving" charges or specialized "drowsy driving" citations if an accident occurs. If you find yourself in this situation, the only safe "rule" is to avoid the road entirely; caffeine is only a temporary mask for exhaustion and cannot replace the cognitive recovery provided by a full night of restorative sleep.

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Power naps are quick, mid-day naps that typically last 10-30 minutes. Experts note 20 minutes is likely the best power nap duration. Taking a 20-minute power nap can help you feel reenergized, but it helps you avoid deep sleep that makes you groggy when you wake up.

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