Have you ever driven for a long distance and realized that you don’t remember much of the journey? Did you feel like you were on autopilot, responding to the road conditions without conscious awareness? If so, you may have experienced highway hypnosis, a phenomenon that causes you to go into a trance-like state while driving.
Contents
What is highway hypnosis?
Highway hypnosis, also known as white line fever, is an altered mental state in which a person can drive a car, truck, or other automobile great distances, responding to external events in the expected, safe, and correct manner with no recollection of having consciously done so
Highway hypnosis is a lot like time blindness, or the idea that time flies when you’re having fun. When you’re consumed with a task you enjoy, your brain goes into autopilot mode and hyperfocuses on the task at hand so you lose track of time and other things happening around you. This behavior is rooted in something called ”procedural memory.”
Procedural memory is the type of memory that allows us to perform routine tasks without thinking about them, such as brushing our teeth, riding a bike, or typing on a keyboard. Procedural memory helps us save mental energy and focus on more important things. However, it can also lead to highway hypnosis when we drive on monotonous roads for long periods of time.
What are the signs and causes of highway hypnosis?
Highway hypnosis is characterized by a lost sense of time while driving. Details of how fast you were driving, how well you were driving, things you’ve seen along the way and locations you’ve passed might be fuzzy or difficult to recall. The drive can feel like a blur and feel far shorter than it actually was
Some warning signs that you might be experiencing highway hypnosis include:
- sleepiness
- loss of concentration or mental fogginess
- wandering thoughts
- a dull or dazed feeling
- slow reaction time
- heavy eyelids or frequent blinking
If you suddenly realize that you’ve just passed your freeway exit or you can’t remember anything about the last several miles, you’ve probably experienced highway hypnosis. Other telltale signs include catching yourself drifting into the next lane or driving onto the rumble strip. Another person in the car with you might also notice that you have a blank expression or glassy-eyed stare.
The main cause of highway hypnosis is monotony. Driving on flat, straight, and boring roads for long periods of time can reduce your brain activity and attention. A 2003 study used a driving simulator to study the effects of road monotony on 56 experienced male drivers. The participants “drove” on two different simulated roads for 40 minutes at a time. Both roads were flat, but the first road only had one type of visual scenery: pine trees spaced equally on either side of the road. The second road contained multiple visual elements, such as trees, farms, signs, and people. Flat bridges and overpasses also broke up the scenery in several different places.
Researchers found that the drivers tended to show more fatigue, measured by large steering movements, while driving on the more monotonous road. Also noteworthy was the fact their fatigue peaked after approximately 20 minutes of driving. This suggests that highway hypnosis may happen very quickly on monotonous stretches of road, not only after long periods of driving
Another factor that contributes to highway hypnosis is brain inattention. According to research from 2004, your oculomotor system, or the system that controls eye movements, also plays a part in highway hypnosis. When you drive on monotonous roads, your eyes tend to fixate on a single point ahead of you, such as the center line or the car in front of you. This reduces your peripheral vision and your awareness of other stimuli around you.
Your brain also tends to filter out irrelevant information and focus on what is important for driving safely. However, this can also lead to a loss of conscious awareness and memory formation. You may be able to react to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions, but you may not remember them later. This is because your brain is using an implicit memory system that does not require conscious attention or encoding.
How to handle and prevent highway hypnosis?
Highway hypnosis can be dangerous because it reduces your alertness and reaction time while driving. It can also increase your risk of falling asleep behind the wheel or missing important signs or exits. Therefore, it is important to know how to handle and prevent highway hypnosis.
If you feel highway hypnosis coming on but don’t have a chance to stop for a while, these quick internal adjustments can help you shake it off:
- Put on loud, upbeat music or engaging talk radio.
- Sing along to the music or talk to yourself or a passenger.
- Adjust your seat position or temperature in the car.
- Chew gum, drink water, or eat a snack.
- Open the window for some fresh air.
- Do some simple exercises, such as squeezing your hands, shrugging your shoulders, or flexing your feet.
However, the best way to handle highway hypnosis is to stop driving as soon as possible and take a break. Experts recommend taking a 15-minute break every two hours of driving or every 100 miles, whichever comes first. During your break, you should:
- Get out of the car and stretch your legs and arms.
- Walk around and get some physical activity.
- Use the restroom and wash your face.
- Drink some coffee or tea to boost your alertness.
To prevent highway hypnosis from happening in the first place, you should also follow these tips:
- Plan your route ahead of time and avoid driving on long, boring roads if possible.
- Choose a time of day when you are most alert and awake, such as early morning or afternoon.
- Avoid driving when you are tired, hungry, thirsty, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Get enough sleep before your trip and avoid driving after a long day of work or activity.
- Share the driving with another person if possible and switch drivers every few hours.
Conclusion
Highway hypnosis is a common phenomenon that affects many drivers. It is related to brain inattention caused by monotony and automaticity. It can impair your driving performance and increase your risk of accidents. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of highway hypnosis and take steps to handle and prevent it. By doing so, you can ensure a safer and more enjoyable driving experience.
