My brother lives 5 hours away in Scotland and I would love to visit him soon with Christmas presents for him and my nephew, but the long drive is daunting. I could get the train, but truthfully I want this experience.
Get a good nights sleep after checking the car.
Load calmly, put your coat in the back. Buy a sat-nav or get your phone a stand for the dashboard - this removes all worries about navigating. With sat-nav running you can miss a junction with no worry.
Go for an absolute maximum of two hours or 100 miles before a sensible break. Service station, short stroll, loo.
Take your time, and be relaxed
I regularly holiday in Southern and Eastern Germany - 2 days to get there.
Eat something before you start so you don't run out of energy en-route leading to subtle loss of concentration.
The safest way to do drive a long distance is to stop about every 2 hours and have a few minutes walking outside the car.
Do this even if you are feeling comfortable and awake. Do not be tempted to just keep going because drowsiness and subtle loss of concentration creeps up on you before you are aware of it.
If you carefully observe the other traffic on the motorway you can see the ones who have driven just a bit too long - they "weave" around in their lane or they suddenly do a bad overtaking manouever (eg pull out with no signal or not checking their mirror and blind spot). This is even more dangerous if it's a lorry driver who is losing concentration.
The enforced stop will make you feel noticeably better and more alert when you start driving again. Remember it is better to take the overall journey time gently rather than risk not getting there at all. Impatience is still the biggest cause of motorway accidents.
Also plan your route so you know when to leave motorways. Keep alert to the motorway junction numbers and advance direction signs as you pass them. Get into the left hand lane about 1/2 mile before your exit and do not be tempted to overtake anything slower than you that happens to be in front. Remember that at 60 mph you only have to sit there for 30 seconds before you leave the motorway. It's not worth risking a crash to save a few seconds.
One of the worst driving things you can do is to suddenly turn off at your exit, especially if you are in the wrong lane. That causes a lot of accidents and jams. If you keep alert to what is happening around you then you will see the stupid idiots who leave it to the last second before the change lanes to leave the motorway. Don't be one of them.
On a similar note - please do not be a "centre lane hog". If the left lane is clear then use it, even if you are driving at 70 mph.
Keep at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front so you have time to react if it brakes suddenly. Driving too close is dangerous and tiring.
Watch your speed. On a motorway or long dual carriageway it can creep up without you being aware. You don't want a speeding ticket to spoil your journey and "not noticing it" will only make the fine greater.
A long drive is really no different from any other drive.
Just remember to stay alert. It can be hard to turn off for a rest on the way. There can be an urge to press on. However, a break will refresh you.
5 hours in a car is nothing
drive for 2 1/2 hours .. stop .. take a piss .. eat walk around ... drive the other 2 1/2
easy stuff
Grow up
