[ghodlur]

For the past year and a half or so, I have been doing Bangalore-Pune-Bangalore trips a lot. The distance around 850 kms is being covered in 11-12 hrs with 3 breaks - Breakfast for 30 mins, Fuel for 15 mins and tea/light snacks for 15 mins. So total of 3 breaks all around 300 kms each. The logic was to give the body the desired time to stretch and help blood recirculation and for the engine to avoid any kind of turbo fatigue due to the higher rpms involved.

So what should be the ideal frequency of taking a break when driving long distances? Should the total distance to be covered decide the number of breaks to be planned? Should the hours of driving dictate the breaks or kms reached? As per experts a rest is needed after every 2 hrs for 15 mins. I normally tend to take a break every 3 hrs during the trip. Plus there is a dashboard message to take a break for a coffee which appears every 4 hrs (Atleast configured in Tata). Does it mean that taking more number of breaks can help push the driving time too or is there is any limitation to that either in terms of hours of driving or kms crossed. Increasing the number of breaks can delay your planned time of reaching the destination.

Another important element is knowing how much to push your car engine to avoid any turbo fatigue which could result due to over speed and high temperatures? So what is the ideal time to give engine the much needed break and for how much time? Is the usual 15 min break sufficient to allow the engine to cool down before it can be fired up again till the next break?

Would welcome thoughts on this.

[nicodash]

Taking breaks during long drives involves more than just measuring time or distance. Traffic conditions significantly influence the need for rest. Heavy traffic can increase fatigue earlier, whereas driving on empty roads may allow for longer, more comfortable stretches.

The type of transmission is also a key factor. Generally, automatic cars are less exhausting over extended distances than manual ones.

Comfort is crucial. A vehicle equipped with comfortable seats and well-designed ergonomics enables longer drives without frequent breaks. Ultimately, the need for rest is determined by a combination of these elements and your personal comfort level.

I often undertake long journeys, the most recent being a trip from Jabalpur to Gurgaon in one day. The total travel time was 14 hours, including 90 minutes of breaks.

- One stop was necessitated by a tire puncture. I enjoyed tea and bhajiye from a nearby restaurant while the puncture was being fixed.
- I made three stops for fuel, taking the opportunity to use the washrooms and stretch my legs at two of these stations.
- I also paused for dinner.

During the drive, I utilized the car's 'cruise' feature as much as possible and adopted a calmer driving style that minimized the need for frequent braking. Also, I chose a longer, but better condition route for the Jabalpur to Sagar stretch. The straight road was shorter, but it is said to be in poorer condition, and would have introduced fatigue in the beginning of the journey itself.

[CArspeed]

The advice the medical practitioners (Gastro as well as Ortho) gave me was to stretch every 2.5 hours for a minimum of 10 minutes each if not more. This gives enough time for blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, lowering heat to develop in and around anal muscles, relaxation of all muscles particularly the lower back, shoulder, sciatica and wrist.
It’s better to avoid caffeine and consume coconut water atleast once. Lastly I give myself a shower in lukewarm water after the long journey irrespective of the time.

[asmr]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

So what should be the ideal frequency of taking a break when driving long distances?... Another important element is knowing how much to push your car engine to avoid any turbo fatigue which could result due to over speed and high temperatures? ... Would welcome thoughts on this.

I can only talk about my experience. Just for reference, my car is a Taigun Topline 1.0 Turbo AT.

The longest I have driven in a single day is ~500kms, in about 8.5hrs of total travel time including breaks. And the longest I have driven without a break is ~265kms in about 4hrs. I have done few of these trips with with just one break of 40-45mins, as well as with 3 breaks (30, 10, 45mins), mostly coinciding with meal/coffee times given that I am mostly traveling with the family in full attendance.

Even when driving on shorter trips (120 to ~330kms), I take 1 or 2 breaks, with one for either breakfast, lunch or dinner and one for a restroom or coffee break.

Given the above scenario, I have not really faced much fatigue as such during the trips, except in one trip recently when I got severe cramping in my legs when driving in very heavy traffic. Also, I don't push my car too much. I tend to prefer a more stable speed, hovering around 85-90Kmph for the most part. So I haven't had any issue with the engine as such.

I would say it is best to take breaks after every 200-250kms or every 2.5 to 3 hrs (whichever happens earlier and very much subject to traffic and road conditions). These numbers should obviously reduce during any night time drives. Personally, I am inclined to take more breaks since I am the only driver in the car and need to be sharp to keep everyone safe. Reaching our destination an hour late is perfectly fine for us most of the time.

[Turbohead]

Here's my personal opinion -
1) Take a break well before you feel tired. This is to ensure that you will feel refreshed after a 5-10 minute break or else you'll end up resting more to recover better. Again this is completely dependent on your body and only you know your body best.
Pushing till your tired is fine as long as you have someone else to take over.
2) As far as mechanical empathy is concerned, if your vehicle is maintained properly with fluids changed on time, you should be fine to let the engine run even for 24 hours. Engines love to run at operating temperature and under operating conditions. Most cars today run at 2000-3000 RPM at 100kmph which should be fine for extended periods. If you're someone who goes pedal to the metal, ensure that the first (especially for cold start) and last 15 minutes of your drive is taken very gently with a light foot. Just remember that wear and tear at operating temperatures with low loads.

[Axe77]

Not getting into outlier scenarios but whether its riding or driving, I generally need at least a short break every 2 hours or so. Anything more than that and I start feeling tired or on longer journeys even drowsy.

I measure rest requirements usually in “time” spent terms and not kms since it’s my need more than (/ sooner than) the vehicle’s.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

So what should be the ideal frequency of taking a break when driving long distances? Should the total distance to be covered decide the number of breaks to be planned? Should the hours of driving dictate the breaks or kms reached?

If the cooling system is working as intended, cars can run uninterrupted for 10s of hours. It is our body which needs rest. Rest shouldn’t be based on the number of KMs (coverage can differ based on road and traffic conditions). Please take breaks as your body demands - ideally once every 2-3 hours or sooner. You can keep the car running during your break and car wouldn’t mind.

Personally, we have covered 1150 kms where the engine ran non stop for 18 hours and never skipped a beat. We were two drivers and carrying our meals. During bio and refuel breaks, car was not turned off.

[Divya Sharan]

I feel the timing of the journey also plays a huge role in determining fatigue.
In my Bangalore to Bokaro drives every year (2000 km each way), I prefer starting as early as 3 AM and reach Adilabad for instance (900-925 km) by 4:30 or 5 PM at most.

Starting super early means I see not much traffic for around 3-4 hours. That is usually the longest part of the drive without breaks, because I drive slower at night (75-85 kph). The first break is for a solid 30 min for breakfast + loo.
Thereafter, it is every 2 hours or so for stretching/food/refuel while still keeping the A pedal moderately happy (95-105 kph). Driving a Punto 1.4 automatically teaches you good A pedal manners.

The fact that I reach my planned destination so early in the evening means I don't have to strain my eyes from oncoming lights when the body is already tired from my whole day of driving. I take bath at whichever hotel I'm parked at and hit the bed by 8 PM and start the next morning again by 3 AM.

There is a point here though - because I stop by 5 PM or so each day, I usually end up in/around Ranchi at the end of day 2, leaving 150-180 km for the 3rd day. But I'm more comfortable this way and reach home in a relatively better state of mind and body. I even pamper myself by starting as late as 5 or 6 AM on the last leg of the drive to catch on some extra rest.

Having ridden the same route multiple times and also many long rides all over India, I have learned that one cannot teach the body to not be tired in merely a day or two of catching good sleep/rest.
One has to be well rested for at least a full week (6-8 hours daily) before embarking on any long drive/ride. And slowly the body adapts over multiple runs and builds endurance.

[Kashief]

There are two scenarios here, driving alone and driving with family.

With family minimum 2 breaks for 500kms journey in a decent pit stop and it takes 15-20 mins. 8 hours driving + 45 mins break time.

When driving alone, the same distance I can cover in 6.5 to 7 hours with short breaks. Problem with breaks anything more than 10 mins is that once again I need to overtake slow moving vehicles and some bad drivers.

[AMG Power]

Car engines don’t need to be switched off unless the car has been put to undue stress such as (1) on a race track red lining in every gear or(2) strenuous loads such as very steep hills and (3) the most strenuous - city traffic as otherwise car engines can go on and on if on a regular highway with normal ambient temperatures. So you have nothing to worry about the engine.

In fact it is better not to shut down the engine as switching off the engine would lead to condensation of gases which progressively dilutes engine oil. The only reason to switch off the engine is for you to take a break.

As for taking a break it is purely dependent on the individual. What works for one person will not work for another. You need to figure what
is your interval and stick to that.

[nicodash]

Originally Posted by nicodash

Taking breaks during long drives involves more than just measuring time or distance.

Continuing my previous comment, here is my checklist/to-dos for long drives. My goal with this checklist is to make sure I stay physically and mentally comfortable during the drive.

• Start early in the morning at 5 or 6 AM. This means I can get out of whichever city I am in before there is traffic on the city roads.
• Map out few possible stops (restaurants, reliable fuel pumps, washrooms etc) in advance and add them to the route to Google Map. I may not stop at any of them, but it's good to know reliable stopping places in advance.
• Adjust the seat to be in the most comfortable position. For me, it means the seat is lowered and reclined a lot more than I have seen anyone else doing. I am not saying you should also recline your seat that much, but figure out what works best for your hands, neck and back.
• Fatigue is mental, as much it is physical. So I play music that keeps my mind active and energetic. In my case, it mostly means classic rock and pre-1990 pop music. I have a dedicated driving playlist which has 465 songs as of today. I have built it carefully adding each song manually, one at a time.
• Keep a water bottle within easy reach to stay hydrated without having to stop frequently. The water bottle should be easy to operate with one hand, and drink only when it's safe.
• Don't drive on empty stomach, and eat healthy food on the road as much as possible. In my case, it means avoiding milk products and very oily stuff as much as possible as they don't suit me. Heavy/oily meals tend to make one sluggish. I pack lactose free milk, homemade muesli, dry fruits mix, homemade protein bars, fruits for the road, along with diet coke and healthy cookies.
• Sunglasses and Sunscreen to protect the eyes and skin, especially when driving for long hours in sunny conditions.

Please share your own to-do items or things that I can change/add to my checklist.

[Cyborg]

Whether it’s driving or riding, my breaks are determined by how I feel not kilometres (distance covered) or time travelled. I make it a point to enjoy the drive or ride and not try to make it from point A to point B in the shortest possible time. Mostly it’s determined by when I need a smoke, bio and/or refreshment break

Cheers

[Biraj]

Simple answer: take breaks as often as you feel like. There are loads of variables here – your fitness, health condition, restfulness, the environment, even your vehicle’s performance/comfort. So, it’s tough to have a one-size-fits-all rule. I would say err on the side of caution. Personally, I prefer more breaks over fewer. Fatigue can really mess with your brain and eyes when driving long distances, and it’s just not worth the risk.

[aaggoswami]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

The distance...welcome thoughts on this.

Taking break during long distance driving is entire dependent on individual and the quality of road. Lets say, a route with lot of construction going on, diversions, a break every hour would be refreshing. Or a single lane highway with high traffic density.

Ideally, I prefer to take breaks for tea every 1.5-2 hours. The break would usually last for 10-15 mins.

However if my travel route involves hilly sections, I prefer to take break just before that section to allow brakes to cool down a bit. Modern car engines dont need to be stopped for cooling down.

Most crucial aspect is comfort of driver and passenger. Manage distance and timelines, optimize comfort and take breaks accordingly.

[Hayek]

Agree fully that breaks depend on you rather than on the car. For me, every two hours is my standard break time on any long drive - and I would stop earlier if I am unlikely to find a good halt within 2 hours. The distance covered could range from as little as 75 km to the Khalapur toll plaza on Poona drives from Bombay to as much as 230 or 240 kms between the outskirts of Stuttgart and Munich on German autobahns.