Why does driving make me tired?

[David H]

Nowadays I find after an hour or so I tend to get very tired driving, especially in heavy traffic. Considering I'm only sitting in a chair the whole time why should this happen?

[ubasses]

Constant concentration is very tiring.

[Sqad]

Tiredness......only when you are driving?

Anything else? weight increase, voice change or sleeping during the day?

On any medication?

[grasscarp]

You are not "only sitting" in traffic. Your feet are on the pedals, your hands are on the steering wheel, your eyes are looking all around you and your ears are listening for sirens or car horns etc. Your brain is constantly evaluating what is happening and adjusting your speed and line of direction. etc etc. No wonder you are tired, especially in heavy traffic with its additional frustrations and fumes.

[guilbert]

I find an automatic car is far less tiring than a manual.

[system]

I'm the same. Only seems to happen on motorways though.

[Old_Geezer]

Lack of caffeine.

Happens to me after my regular 150 mile journey. Can hardly scrape together enough energy to go to the pub later that evening.

[seadogg]

Many people feel shattered after a longish drive but I'd be worried if drowsy while driving.
Do you keep anything handy to keep your blood sugar at a decent level.

[cazzz1975]

sometimes there can be a lack of cool fresh air in the car that can make you feel sleepy. driving a lot can be exhausting, especially if you are not getting enough sleep as well.

make sure you get enough sleep and that your car is well ventilated

[Hopkirk]

Not enough quality sleep at night?

[boxtops]

I agree with the others - it's because you have to concentrate all the time. Your body may be sitting but all your systems are alert.

[ooh-la-la]

me too boxy, i find getting freash air into the car really helps though

[David H]

Glad it's not just me. I had two year's chronic fatigue in 2005 following a gut infection so am still gradually recovering, so do definitely have a medical reason at 51 to feel more tired than otherwise.
But I think that was just the reason to lower the tiredness threshhold and see that something that had previously never happened (I have had much faster cars which are a lot easier on long runs but had to go for economy when the last one packed up) and it is true that although seated am using my limbs constantly and also proved having the brain on active rather than passive must use a lot of physical energy by feeding it with more blood supply and as a result has a similar effect to actual physical exercise. My current solution is to share the driving which has allowed a lot more distance to be covered as I take photos as a hobby and one group is measured by geographic coverage (I'm sure many of you will know it) so am very much reliant on being able to travel around. I'm sleeping ok most of the time though.

I am on beta blockers for tachycardia which I don't have to take the whole time, and also wondered if they make it worse although the alternative was a lot worse I took them for.