Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Tuscany or Cinque Terra

If you are crossing time zones, please please PLEASE do not pick up a rental car immediately upon arrival! Although many people – including many experienced travelers -- are not aware of it, there is mounting evidence that driving after crossing multiple time zones (the effects of which are often called jet lag) is just as dangerous -- to yourself and others -- as driving drunk, and nothing you can do will prevent the microsleeps (which you might not even notice) that are the apparent culprit. Seriously -- NOT a good idea, no matter your prior experience! And please be patient with me if you think I’m being overly adamant, but I know too many people who have died or been seriously injured in accidents to which crossing time zones was a contributing factor, and I know too many people who will spend the rest of their lives dealing with the knowledge that they were responsible for accidents that resulted in multiple deaths, including those of children, all because they were too confident in their ability to drive safely with jet lag. The issue has become a bit of a cause célèbre for me….