Is it legal to sleep in your car at an Illinois rest area? What the rules say
The Illinois Department of Transportation maintains 53 rest areas across the state, and they’re often used by truckers or other motorists taking a break on a long trek. But is it legal to sleep overnight at an Illinois rest stop?
IDOT’s administrative code on the use and enjoyment of rest areas institutes a three-hour time limit for people camping, sleeping on benches or tables, and staying inside the rest area building, IDOT public information officer Paul Wappel told the News-Democrat in a recent email.
Erecting tents or shelters on rest area grounds is not permitted, the code says.
“Sleeping overnight on the grounds, benches, or in the building of a rest area is prohibited,” the administrative code reads.
The administrative code does not directly spell out a rule on whether someone can specifically sleep inside their own vehicle at a rest stop, but Wappel said visitors are not usually asked to leave unless they have spent more than one night there or are causing a disturbance.
“In recent years, in response to a severe national shortage in truck parking and federal rules that limit the number of hours truckers can be on the road, we have allowed trucks to park so drivers can rest overnight,” IDOT public information officer Maria Castaneda wrote in an email to the News Democrat. “The intent of our administrative rules is to keep people from staying several days and even living at rest areas.”
The permitted duration of a rest area stay may be further limited when the facility is full or becoming full, according to the code, and notice will be posted at the rest area.
How to avoid driver fatigue
Driver fatigue can lead to crashes, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recommends motorists follow a few best practices to mitigate risk:
- Get enough sleep before driving. If possible, avoid driving between midnight and 6 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., when you are naturally drowsy. If you do become drowsy, find a safe place to pull over and rest.
- Make sure to eat regular meals, as skipping meals or eating at irregular times can lead to fatigue.
- When stopped at a safe rest area, take a nap. Your nap should last at least 10 minutes, the FMCSA reports, but ideally up to 45 minutes. You should allow at least 15 minutes after waking up from your nap to fully recover before driving again.
- Avoid medication that may induce drowsiness. Some of the most common medicines that could make you drowsy include tranquilizers, sleeping pills, allergy medicines and cold medicines.
- Recognize the signals and dangers of drowsiness. Drowsiness indicators include frequent yawning, heavy eyes and blurred vision.
- Don’t rely on “alertness tricks.” Turning up the radio volume, rolling down a window and drinking coffee are “not real cures” for drowsiness and may give a false sense of security.
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