Max hours driving per day?

Right on the money, a good answer. There are too many variables. If you have to ask then yours are unknown and can only be gained from experience. Sydney to Tibooburra in a day is a big ask for anyone and I do a lot of long hauls for holiday trips with time constraints. Lately, I'll leave for my break straight from work around 5:30pm and drive into the night and maybe reach Nyngan for a roadside camp. That gives me a good head start for my first full day. I've done Nyngan to Cameron Corner in a day without too much hassle, but in general, long hauls are best avoided if possible. For some people they turn a holiday into a nightmare.

I would say the fact that he is asking how long he should be driving tells me that he has little experience. I drove interstate for many years and it took me years to learn my limits. If you are not conditioned to long hours behind the wheel you will have trouble alot earlier than someone who is conditioned. Also the difference between outback driving coupled with a possibility of less than ideal sleep (camp on side of road ) means that the hours travelled each day may be reduced as the trip goes on. In short allow plenty of time to see things on the way and don't rush.
Cheers Mick

Mick,
couldn't agree with you more. I also come from the same background as yourself.

Recently I used to work 14 straight 12 hour nightshifts averaging around 4 to 5 hours sleep a day. Then on the last morning wait around to catch a plane and then drive another 4.5 hours. Total time for that day was 21 hours. While I don't suggest people do this I never had a problem.

Many have big problem with long hours and K's, the Peak Downs Highway is testimony to this with a trail of devastation that makes my head spin.

One of the big things now is if there is an accident they will investigate how long you have been driving and if put down to fatigue you can be charged with a pretty major offence if someone is injured.

Have a good one,
RA.

yep ive got mates who consider 3 hours a long drive

i will say this however, just the fact hes asked the question would mean to me hes not experienced in country long distance driving,

like most things it takes experience

persoanlly I can get the nods at any time and if i do i either take a
powernap or pull over if near a road house and gab a coke or something

- n o one ever got more awake by keeping on driving

You can't gauge fatigue by any means prior to any day, any hour. Factors such as weather, geography, previous amount of sleep, levels of concentration required, diet and food consumption are all very relevant variables. You just have to be aware of `yourself'. Be aware of the onset of fatigue BEFORE you get to the point where you wander across the road or fail to react. This is already at a point that you shouldn't be at.
The only constructive thing we can add is to aggree with Motherhen. We usually try to avoid travelling outback after dark. If concerns about fatigue are the issue here, then its another good reason to avoid night driving. Not only is animal strike an overiding concern, but ulitimately `the threat of...' is just as worrying. Driving in the dark, requires so much more concentration and awarness. Constant scanning into the bush along the sides of the roads can be very taxing and therefore generates its own fatigue.
Different travellers have their own sets of personal guidlines for trips. Our policy is to set realistic goals for getting to where we want to be. Generally we'll know where we want to get to. We then look into 3 possible stage stops. As we reach one, we'll see how we feel. If all good, then we'll continue on to stop 2. Again, reasses the situation and either carry on, or stop. It works well for us but again doesn't really work if you have a deadline and have to cover a set amount kilometres and are restricted by time. In these situations for us, we try to build in some margin for travel when we have to be somewhere at a precise date.
Again, simple enough system and maybe not appropriate to your trip here. Its just about planning, and what you want to get out of a trip. Ultimately planning is laid out be the under lying essence of the trip.....leisure or function?
Good luck, travel safe.......and don't drive tired!!! LOL