Feeling sleepy during a long journey is a warning to stop driving and rest. The safe response on a motorway is to leave at a service area or the next suitable exit and find a safe place to stop. Do not use the hard shoulder or an emergency area as a rest stop.
Make the decision early
Tiredness reduces concentration and makes it easier to miss developing hazards. Waiting until you can barely keep your eyes open leaves less margin for a safe decision. Follow signs to a suitable stopping place and keep your attention on driving until you have parked safely.
Noise and fresh air do not replace rest
Opening a window or playing loud music is not a reliable solution to fatigue. The lesson in the Short is to stop and rest rather than try to push through the remaining miles. Driving faster also increases the risk and does not solve tiredness.
Plan breaks before you set off
Highway Code Rule 91 recommends at least a 15-minute break after every two hours of driving. Get enough sleep before a long journey and do not begin driving when already tired. If you still feel sleepy after a break, do not resume until you are fit to drive; change your plans if necessary.
This general advice does not replace the separate drivers’ hours and rest requirements that may apply to professional drivers.
Quick revision check
You start feeling sleepy on a motorway. What should you do? Leave the motorway at a suitable stopping opportunity and rest in a safe place. The hard shoulder is not a place for a planned sleep break.
Watch the narrated revision Short
Official guidance: The Highway Code. Checked 14 October 2026.
Independent revision. Original AI-created educational photo; continuous synthetic UK-English narration.
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