Road hypnosis, also known as white line fever, is a state of mind in which a person may drive a vehicle for long distances, reacting to external events in the expected and correct way without the memory of having done so consciously. In this state, the driver’s conscious mind is apparently and totally focused elsewhere, with seemingly direct processing of the masses of information needed to drive safely.
Highway hypnosis can happen to anybody on short drives as well as on longer road trips. When you drive along a well-known road or stare at a largely unchanging road for a long period, your brain switches to a less alert mode, going into some sort of autopilot, and begins to depend less on what you see and more on your mental prediction. Normally you don´t realize you have fallen into this trancelike state until you snap out of it, with a sense of confusion and not remembering what happened. This mental process involves the automaticity, the ability to perform actions without consciously thinking about them.
CAUSES OF HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS
The monotony of a scenario, a straight highway, or a repeated driving routine can make your brain take over the process, being able to automatically recall how to perform a procedural task with no effort, causing hyper-focused automatic attention. When there´s no significant change in visual elements, the brain trains itself to predict what you will see next. The causes of experiencing highway hypnosis are:
- Monotonous scenarios
- Sleepiness
- Fatigue
DROWSINESS, DISTRACTION, AND FATIGUE
These are different concepts; while a driver´s brain experiencing Highway Hypnosis is subconsciously aware of threats and danger, drowsiness, fatigue, and distraction are quite dangerous for you and other drivers. If you are inattentive or distracted, your reaction time is lessened. Drowsiness reduces awareness of obstacles, impairs coordination, memory, and judgment and tiredness can lead to falling asleep while driving. Here are some warning signs:
- Mental fogginess or loss of concentration
- Sleepiness
- Dazed or dull feeling
- Wandering thoughts
- Loss of concentration
- Slow reaction time
- Frequent blinking
- Heavy eyelids
- Drifting
TIPS TO HANDLE HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS
Once you have noticed signs of this state of mind, you should increase your alertness by following these tips:
- Stop and take a break and move around
- Drink caffeine: It helps boost alertness
- Talk to someone until you reach your destination or sing
- Put the music in high volume
- Open your car windows, the wind in your face will keep you sharp
- Turning off the Cruise control gives you the task of monitoring your speed and keeps you concentrated on it.
- Drive with an upright seat, to prevent from slipping into an overly relaxed position
HOW TO PREVENT IT
- Drive during the day; driving at night increases the risk of road hypnosis
- Try taking different routes
- Avoid driving for long distances
- Eat light, don´t have large meals before a long drive
- Sleep well before driving
- Avoid medications that cause drowsiness
- Don´t use the GPS system so you have to trust your driving skills
- Take frequent breaks to avoid tiredness
M&M VEHICLE TRANSPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
- For long drives, always try to travel with someone who can replace you at the wheel.
- Better late than never; don´t take risks when feeling drowsy or tired or have experienced episodes of road hypnosis; stop and take your time to recover
- It is not worth risking your life and your vehicle in long, exhausting road journeys; we transport your vehicle seamlessly and stress-free. We handle all kinds of vehicles at the most competitive prices in the industry. Give us a call 877 957 4878 for a free quote. for a free quote.