I can understand that you dont have to make physical effort to feel tired, because I work as a computer programmer and I feel tired after making mental effort, but this effort seems way bigger than the one required to drive, yet, after 4,5 hours of driving I feel way more exhausted than after 8,10 hours of coding.
In: Biology
I personally think the constant list of things to do is exhausting. Scan the road for brake lights good indicator of a speed trap. Constantly listening for the beeping of a radar detector. Visually scanning the side of the road for anything fitting the profile of a unmarked car. Looking at Waze to tell if others saw anything and also what maze of side roads can be used to bail on if observed speeding. The emergency radio to make sure no one observed with out being noticed. And then there is interstate telimitry if your speed is observed it has to be at a certain angle hiding in another vehicles radar profile is a lot of math.
You would be surprised how many muscles you use/exercise while driving. I stopped driving for a year, then when I started again the back of my feet (Above the heel pad) and back started hurting for some time, even though I had a correct posture. That in addition to the what others mentioned like paying attenton, making decisions, etc…
Lay person here, but I call it decision fatigue. You have to be at this constant state of alertness assuming you’re a good driver. I work in corrections (think jail guard) and I believe it is a definite syndrome that affects me and my coworkers. You get worn out from the constant vigilance and anticipation, trying to predict what will come next.
When you loose focus while coding you may have to start over and make corrections. Plus, you’re earning money.
When you loose focus while driving, lives are at stake- yours; other drivers and auto occupants; animals. It’s time spent between things we have to or want to be doing.
So, though coding is a valuable skill, driving is a greater responsibility, which oddly, ANYONE with a valid drivers license can do; no matter how young or how old.
But, most likely, we’re more tired because of boredom and our lack of control (frustration) in the driving environment. We’d rather be somewhere else.
By listening to an audio book, or podcasts of informative teaching and news; or music that inspires a different mindset we can appreciate the journey while on the way to our destination.
For me personally, it’s the PTSD. I was in two severe accidents within six months of each other. One, we were t-boned, one I was hit from behind by an eighteen wheeler. Neither where my fault, in fact I was the passenger in the first.
But it’s made me even more hyper vigilant than I was before. So the six hour trip to my parents house takes me at least eight. Because it tires me out so much that I can’t go without stopping.
Im sorry but this is a very bad question. Using cognitive function is tiring. Obviously you uave to use a decent amount whike driving
I always theorized that the slight vibrations from the motor, which we may not consciously notice, relax our bodies after a while.
I push 11 hours most days. R/trucking.
When not in the 18wheeler and in the grocery getter I think I could drive 3 days straight…
I think people’s tolerance is relative.
So there are a few factors affecting your tiredness.
1. Actively driving. This is the effort it takes to drive, navigate, check your speed, and basically manage yourself on the road.
2. Sub-conscious driving. When driving, you’re doing 100s of small adjustments every minute. Checking the speed of other cars and managing your car against them. Slowing down a tiny bit to keep the car under the speed limit, maintaining spacial awareness by checking the mirrors and other traffic.
3. Physical fatigue. So part of this is the physical effort used to move your arms on the wheel and pedals. But also the effort your body goes through to keep you seated comfortably. Your body is working constantly to hold you in your seat, check your leg is comfortable etc.
4. Finally, and this is for passengers as well as drivers. Its “NVH” or noise, vibration and harshness. Its things like tire noise, how much lurching you do in motion vs smooth driving, and how isolated you feel from the rest of the world.
All of these combine to make driving pretty tiring. Good luck!
It’s the monotonous motion. Mesmerizing lines,lights, trees, cars trucks vans semis.
The light of the sun flashing through the trees creating a strobe light effect.
The human body isn’t made to sit for long periods.
I like driving in my new truck or my wife’s van but I hate sitting shotgun. The seat sits lower on both vehicles. And me being tall makes my legs hurt in such a way.
That’s why I hate long driving. I love maps, direction roads and map reading without using gps
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