we are thinking of driving straight through from Maine. 24hr drive

[maxiesmom]

So when it comes to senior citizens, you want to judge it case by case, but when it comes to whether a person can handle 4 hours or 20 hours behind the wheel, you want to grab a broad brush... Based on the opinions of some here, ALL senior citizens should not drive because SOME are unsafe..

Yes. The majority of people loose driving skills after driving long periods of time without sleep. So unless you can prove that is not the case, you should use common sense and not do something that is proven to be dangerous. Senor citizens do not all loose their driving skills at the same time. And it is not something that can be quickly fixed with a little sleep. To recklessly engange in dangerous behavior, behavior that can be fixed with little effort, is just silly and wrong!

 

[JonS99]

Yes. The majority of people loose driving skills after driving long periods of time without sleep. So unless you can prove that is not the case, you should use common sense and not do something that is proven to be dangerous. Senor citizens do not all loose their driving skills at the same time. And it is not something that can be quickly fixed with a little sleep. To recklessly engange in dangerous behavior, behavior that can be fixed with little effort, is just silly and wrong!

And the majority of people lose their driving skills starting at the age of 60, so according to your litmus test used on people driving for long periods, its silly and dangerous for ALL people over that age to drive..

I will make the arguement for us, its safer to do it this way.. Less traffic, kids are asleep so they are not a distraction.. But you keep painting with that broad brush of yours and and be very offensive!

 

[maxiesmom]

And the majority of people lose their driving skills starting at the age of 60, so according to your litmus test used on people driving for long periods, its silly and dangerous for ALL people over that age to drive..

I will make the arguement for us, its safer to do it this way.. Less traffic, kids are asleep so they are not a distraction.. But you keep painting with that broad brush of yours and and be very offensive!

I'm not trying to offend you. But people can't prevent growing old. But you can prevent driving tired. So to compare the two is not fair, imho.

You arguement is starting to sound like "My friend Tommy gets to play with firecrackers. Why can't I?" That is how your reasoning is coming across. Just because others engage in a behavior that we know to be dangerous does not mean we should all feel free to do the same. Especially when it is something that is so easily avoided.

And you know what? I would be all for mandatory road tests for all drivers, every year. That way we could accurately judge eveyones capabilities. It would make the roads much safer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Give it up, maxiesmom. We're never going to convince any individual person in this thread that staying awake for twenty+ hours AND driving during that period impairs their driving ability, their perception of their driving ability, their judgement, their reaction time, their common sense... ALL studies to the contrary.

Yes, an 85 year old is somewhat more likely than a 25 year old to mistake the gas pedal for the brake pedal. On the other hand, the 85 year old isn't planning to drive twenty or more hours with no sleep.

 

[ecpool]

My original plan was to stop half way down. My daughter (age 22) says she thinks it would be no problem if her and her boyfriend switch off driving with me and my wife. Like someone mentioned I am concerned that non of us will get sound sleep therefore making it dangerous. I am a little concerned that her boyfriend has type 2 diabetes and has gone into somewhat of coma a couple of times because he has taken the wrong amount insoline. Anyway,I am up in the air on this. I am leaning towards getting a hotel now. I would fly but during President's week the cost of flying is over $500 each. (my daughter is saving for her wedding). Plus I won't have to rent a car (another $500+) because we are doing things other than Disney.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oops! Yeah, we did kind of veer away from responding to the original post!

Yes, epcool - many people drive from the Northeast to Disney World.

Even if you have just three drivers, you should do fine. Plus, your daughter's fiance could take the first shift - leaving your home, you and he should be able to tell if he's fit to drive.

Anyway, with the three drivers it seems very possible that ONE of the three will be able to get restorative sleep while 'off-shift'.

Go. Enjoy. Just have a contingency plan - e.g. be ready to pull off into a rest area or even a hotel - in case everybody needs a break at the same time.

 

[the Fidge]

Sounds like there are some really important medical factors to consider. So glad you are mindful of factoring that in.

A great chance to get recharge your battery get a peak at the weather ahead. I usually pack one bag for everyone for overnite so that way I jsut have to grab one bag for all of us. We try to get the major leg out of the way on the first day since we are in a huge hurry to get to WDW!!! We usually stop in Richmond Hill GA our friends usually stop at the bottom of VA.

On our way home we usually stop at one of GA beaches. Tybee Jekyll Islands are just a short stop off of 95. Then some hard driving home the next day. I can;t suggest enought how the stop on the way home is great as we are all a bit let down from having to go home! I try to find a place that we can go for a nice sunny wind down!

WE are not driving this trip due to health concerns for a family member. Don't forget to use the website for gas buddy to get your best monies worth at the pumps! More to spend at Disney!

 

[JonS99]

I'm not trying to offend you. But people can't prevent growing old. But you can prevent driving tired. So to compare the two is not fair, imho.

They don't have to not grow old, they only don't need to drive, and based on YOUR opinion and comments, you MUST feel they shouldn't drive or else you are applying a double standard..

I often work 16 hour shifts and I commute an hour each way to work, so sitting in the car for 20 hours is a piece of cake.. Then again, in todays society were people aren't used to a hard days work, maybe most of us can't handle it..

 

[maxiesmom]

They don't have to not grow old, they only don't need to drive, and based on YOUR opinion and comments, you MUST feel they shouldn't drive or else you are applying a double standard..

I often work 16 hour shifts and I commute an hour each way to work, so sitting in the car for 20 hours is a piece of cake.. Then again, in todays society were people aren't used to a hard days work, maybe most of us can't handle it..

I also stated that I think they should do yearly road tests for everyone. And if they wanted to set up some kind of refex test for those who work extended hours and then have to drive long distances, that would be great too! If it helps keep people off the roads that have no business being there, I am all for it!

It is not just my opinion but a fact that driving long hours without a break is dangerous. That is why trucking companies have rules governing such things.

Smart people avoid risks when they can. Why put your body thru unnecessary stress and fatigue, and put others at risk, when it is so easily avoided?

 

[baileybelle]

Ecpool: I would definitely stop over night if you are driving down in the winter months. Fredricksburg, Va is known as the "Snowbird" stop because it's just about halfway to WDW from Maine with lots of hotels and restaurants. It's about 12-13 hours to WDW from there.

We try and leave at least by 3am and drive as far as we can the first day which is usually NC/SC border, get a good nights sleep, get up around 5am and be at WDW around 2 in the afternoon.

Here are a couple of links that will be helpful to you
http://www.i95exitguide.com/index.php
http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm

Maxiesmom and JonS99: You should start your own thread.

 

[LauraAnn630]

I used to be very afraid of flying. So we drove from Cleveland to Disney.

Now, I love flying!!! LOL Not really but I would never drive again.

We were so tired.

 

[JonS99]

I also stated that I think they should do yearly road tests for everyone. And if they wanted to set up some kind of refex test for those who work extended hours and then have to drive long distances, that would be great too! If it helps keep people off the roads that have no business being there, I am all for it!

It is not just my opinion but a fact that driving long hours without a break is dangerous. That is why trucking companies have rules governing such things.

Smart people avoid risks when they can. Why put your body thru unnecessary stress and fatigue, and put others at risk, when it is so easily avoided?

Well lucky for us, we are driving our Taurus X and not driving a semi.. I forget, which US laws prohibit us from driving 20 straight hours???? If its SUCH a risk and so very dangerous, there just MUST be rules against it, right??

Smart people are also able to realize that some people are able to do things that others are not able to..

You do have a good point, as soon as SOME senior citizens are not able to pass a driving test, ALL of them will not be able to drive.. And then experts such as yourself can sit at your computer and call them names when SOME seniors say they a should be able to drive..

 

[kaytieeldr]

REALLY intelligent people are able to realize that after twenty straight hours of being awake and driving, their perception of their judgment drops - as do their reflexes and awareness.

There don't have to be rules against something for people to use common sense regarding that (any given) issue.

But one MORE time - please just let us know when you're driving 20+ hours straight and from/to where... so those of us WITH common sense can avoid your route.

 

[JonS99]

REALLY intelligent people are able to realize that after twenty straight hours of being awake and driving, their perception of their judgment drops - as do their reflexes and awareness.

There don't have to be rules against something for people to use common sense regarding that (any given) issue.

But one MORE time - please just let us know when you're driving 20+ hours straight and from/to where... so those of us WITH common sense can avoid your route.

AGAIN, as people get older, their reflexes and wareness drops as well, why aren't you grandstanding for them to stop driving???

For those of you that can't handle it, whether its caused by laziness, lack of mental toughness or whatever, I think you are 100% correct, they should not be on the roads.. For those of us that are able to do it, we will wave bye-bye as you pull into your hotel for a nap..

 

[the Fidge]

ok SO NOW YOU HAVE STATED 2x YOU ARE TOUGH OK WE GOT THE HINT ALREADY!!!

You have stated more than 4X now that us folks that are considerate of our wellbeing and that of other drivers are lamos!

OK I think we are all clear that you are one tough person! That can drive all that way!

Ok I think we are all clear and you can think anything you want about me and others here we are all just delighted to be safety first folks!

Happy to be the turtle to arrive safe, of sound mind and body.

I have not been aware of any trophies to be handed out for the toughest drivers.

I do however get a lovely discount for my many years of safe driving. You can now put away your hammer and stop beating us over the head with your tough posts!

 

[kaytieeldr]

AGAIN, as people get older, their reflexes and wareness drops as well, why aren't you grandstanding for them to stop driving???

With age comes maturity, and wisdom.
Most people you call "old" - and note that you have changed your definition of old in various posts (waiting for it to drop to 35 any day now...) have the common sense NOT TO STAY AWAKE AND DRIVE FOR TWENTY+ HOURS STRAIGHT.

eta: STILL waiting for Jons99's travel dates and general route, so the sensible among us can stay AWAY from that route, and warn as many other drivers as possible.

 

[JonS99]

It was others on this thread that started the insults towards those that do drive long hours, tossing out phrases like "dangerous", "unsafe", "not worried about safety" and many others..

Its not about being tough, its about being able to physically and mentally handle driving a car for X amount of hours, some CAN do it with no problem, for those of us that can, we don't deserve to be made to feel like we are a danger...

When I see people talk about taking 3 days to make a 1200 mile trip, I laugh at it to myself, but I am polite enough to not insult their CHOICE of driving style.. Perhaps thats a lesson a few of you need to learn..

 

[the Fidge]

Last time we did it, we left home at noon, arrived at WDW at 8:00A the next morning after I drove 20 straight hours, checked into the resort and were at MK by 9:30A, where we stayed until close..

Was not tired during the drive, put nobody into danger and wasn't tired after we got to WDW.. So be careful before you judge people, sounds like I am just a little bit "tougher" than you perhaps???

OK and what is that last line here??? I have nothing more to say!

 

[MrMarv]

One enormous potential snafu in taking a trip such as this would be trying to envision an hour at which you'd leave Westbrook, and manage to avoid getting stuck in rush-hour traffic in and around NYC, Philadelphia, or the Baltimore/DC area.

Since Washington DC is some 550 miles from Westbrook, you'd probably have to stop somewhere to refill your gas tank and grab a bite to eat, which could lower your risk at getting caught in traffic in Washington, unless you left Westbrook at 9 PM or thereabouts, which might allow you to get through Washington DC by 6 AM.

 

[leahjade]

And some people posting on this thread are in denial, but, I guess the laws of nature and physics don't apply to those with superhuman powers. I've been awake for 2 days straight lots of times, but wouldn't attempt to drive for 24 hours at that point. But I guess some of us are tougher and smarter mentally and have the restraint not to endanger others. It's just like the drunk drivers who think only other drinkers are impaired, but they can tolerate multiple drinks without consequences. It's always the other guy. I guess until something tragic happens to someone in your life at the fault of a negligent driver, you won't take this issue seriously. In this country if a child is accidentally shot by a handgun in someone's home, it's an outrage (and which it should be). However, what about the thousands of people who drive a lethal weapon every day impaired (by drinking, cellphones, lack of sleep)?