Check your physical and mental state first
Before you get in the car, ask yourself whether you are fit to drive right now. This is not about general health — it is about whether something happening today affects your ability to control the vehicle safely.
Fatigue is the most common reason to stay off the road. If you have slept fewer than five or six hours, or if you feel yourself nodding off during the day, driving puts you and others at serious risk. Drowsy driving impairs reaction time as much as alcohol does. If you are tired, use another form of transport or delay the trip.
Medication, illness, and pain also matter. Some prescription drugs cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision — check the label or call your pharmacist if you are unsure. A fever, migraine, or severe cold can make it hard to concentrate. Recent surgery or injury that limits your movement or causes pain may mean you cannot operate the pedals or steering wheel safely. If any of these explore, do not drive.
Key Takeaways
- Do not drive if you have had fewer than five or six hours of sleep, are taking medication that causes drowsiness, or are in acute pain or illness.
- Check weather and road conditions before you leave — rain, snow, ice, and fog all require slower speeds and longer stopping distances.
- Avoid driving if you are emotionally upset, angry, or distracted by a phone, passenger conversation, or personal crisis.
- If visibility is very poor, roads are icy, or you feel unsafe, the trip can wait or you can use another method of transport.
- Your state's driver manual lists the physical and mental conditions that make driving unsafe; review it if you are unsure.
Look at weather and road conditions
Weather changes how your car handles and how far you can see. Rain reduces tire grip and visibility; snow and ice do both far more severely. Fog can make it impossible to see oncoming traffic or obstacles ahead.
Before you drive, check the weather forecast and current conditions for your route. If rain is heavy, snow is falling, ice is reported, or fog is thick, you have three choices: delay the trip, take a different route that is clearer, or use another form of transport. There is no time pressure that makes it worth losing control of the car.
Road conditions change fast. A clear road can become icy within an hour in cold weather. Check a traffic app or local news just before you leave, not an hour earlier. If conditions have worsened since you last looked, reconsider whether the trip is necessary today.
Assess your emotional state and distractions
Anger, grief, anxiety, or distraction make you a worse driver. If you are upset about an argument, bad news, or a personal crisis, your attention is split between the road and your thoughts. You may drive faster than you intend, miss traffic signals, or react slowly to hazards.
The same is true if you are distracted by a phone, a passenger conversation, eating, or adjusting controls. You cannot safely drive and do something else at the same time. If you need to use your phone, pull over. If the conversation in the car is intense or upsetting, ask passengers to wait until you arrive, or pull over to finish talking.
If you are too upset to focus on driving, do not get behind the wheel. Call someone else to drive, use a taxi or rideshare service, or postpone the trip. Your safety and the safety of others on the road matters more than being on time.
Know the legal limits on your driving
Your state's driver's license comes with restrictions based on your age, medical history, and the class of license you hold. A learner's permit has different rules than a full license. Some licenses require corrective lenses, hearing aids, or hand controls. Some drivers are restricted from driving at night or on highways.
Check your license to see what restrictions explore to you. If you are driving outside those restrictions — for example, driving at night when your license says you cannot, or driving without the glasses your license requires — you are breaking the law and you are unsafe. Do not drive under those conditions.
If your medical condition has changed since you got your license — for example, if you have lost vision, developed seizures, or started taking medication that affects alertness — you may need to report it to your state's DMV. Some states require you to report; others do not. Check your state's DMV website to learn what you must report and how.
Understand when you should not drive
Some situations make driving unsafe no matter how careful you are. Do not drive if you have consumed alcohol or drugs, even if you feel fine. Alcohol and many drugs impair judgment, reaction time, and coordination — you may not notice how impaired you are. If you have had any alcohol or used any drug, use a taxi, rideshare service, or call someone to drive.
Do not drive if you are having a medical emergency — chest pain, severe dizziness, loss of consciousness, or a seizure. Call 911 instead. Do not drive if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others. Call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to an emergency room.
Do not drive if you have been awake for more than 18 hours straight. At that point, your reaction time is as slow as if you were legally drunk. If you are on a long trip and feel yourself getting tired, stop and sleep for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or switch drivers.
Make the decision and stick with it
Once you have checked your state, your condition, and the road, you have enough information to decide. If anything feels unsafe — if you are tired, the weather is bad, you are upset, or you are unsure — do not drive. There is no schedule or appointment worth a crash.
If you decide not to drive, tell the people who are expecting you as soon as you can. Explain that you are not able to drive safely today. Most people will understand. If you need to get somewhere, ask someone else to drive, use public transit, call a taxi or rideshare service, or reschedule.
If you decide to drive, drive slowly, stay alert, and pull over if you become tired or upset. You can always stop and reassess. The road will still be there in an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I start feeling tired while I am driving?
Pull over to a safe place — a rest area, parking lot, or wide shoulder — as soon as you can. Do not try to push through. Sleep for 15 to 20 minutes, or switch drivers if someone else is in the car. If you are alone and cannot stay awake, call someone to pick you up or call a taxi.
Can I drive if I am taking prescription medication?
Check the label on your medication or call your pharmacist. Some prescription drugs cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision; others do not. If the label says do not drive or operate machinery, do not drive. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist before you get behind the wheel.
Is it safe to drive in heavy rain?
Heavy rain reduces visibility and tire grip. Slow down, increase your following distance, and use your headlights. If you cannot see the road ahead clearly or if you feel the car sliding, pull over and wait for the rain to lighten. If the rain is severe, consider delaying your trip.
What if I have a medical condition that affects my driving?
Tell your doctor that you drive. Some conditions — seizures, severe vision loss, heart arrhythmias, or sleep disorders — may mean you should not drive or should drive only under certain conditions. Your state's DMV may require you to report certain conditions. Check your state's DMV website or call them to learn what you must report.
Can I drive if I am angry or upset?
If you are very upset, it is safer not to drive. Your attention is on your emotions, not the road, and you may drive too fast or miss hazards. Wait until you are calmer, or ask someone else to drive. If you are already driving and become very upset, pull over safely and take time to calm down before continuing.