[Z-man]

Knock on wood, I've never fallen asleep while behind the wheel. And I have driven in some very exhaustive situations - like driving home from 24 hour disaster recovery tests, driving 8-9 hours home from VIR and Mid-Ohio to Northern NJ. One thing that has worked for me is to drink lots of soda - not only because of the caffeine, but also because when I gotta pee on the road, that keeps me alert and awake!

Side note: my company, Mercedes-Benz is working on some high tech stuff to help detect and prevent drivers falling alseep behind the wheel - this goes beyond the 'drifting out of the late' systems that are on the horizon. The car will beep and display a coffee mug in the center console (and continue to beep louder and louder) if certain parameters occur - for example - if the driver starts driving with just one hand, after already driving for hours with two hands. If the driver turns up the radio and/or opens the windows, if the driver starts to slouch in the driver's seat -- all of these will indicate to the car that the driver may be fatigued, and the car will start to send the alerts. This technology is a few years away - but if it works and saves lives - that will be great.

-Z-man.