Health · Advice & Questions · Oct 17

How do I refuse an airport drive when I'm struggling to stay awake?

Health

My brother chose a flight arriving at midnight after I agreed to collect him. When I told him I have been fighting sleep on evening journeys, he said, "Buy a strong coffee. It's only forty minutes."

I am not doing that drive. [NHTSA warns that coffee alone may not overcome serious sleepiness and that drowsy driving can cause crashes](https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving).

My partner has also noticed pauses and gasping during my sleep. I have contacted my GP about the daytime sleepiness and those observations; I do not know the cause yet.

My brother has a taxi quote of about £70 and thinks changing the plan leaves him with my bill. I understand that he relied on my offer. I would like to help find another arrangement without bargaining over whether I should take the wheel.

What is a fair way to discuss the inconvenience once the drive itself is off the table?

Discussion

2 community replies

@northstar88

Keep the message definite: "I can't safely do the collection. I'm sorry the plan has changed; let's look at another way for you to get home." An apology for inconvenience does not have to become a promise to drive.

@softfocus

Do not let the forty-minute estimate turn into a test of determination. The [NHTSA warning about caffeine and drowsiness](https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving) is why coffee is not a reliable answer to this stated problem. If you are sleepy, use a different transport arrangement.

How do I refuse an airport drive when I'm struggling to stay awake?

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