Photo: Courtesy of Pixabay.com
Fans of the now-defunct NBC show 30 Rock will be able to recall this memorable scene: baby-hungry protagonist Liz Lemon picks up a crying baby to comfort it. While rocking the child in her arms, staring into those adorable infant’s eyes, the scene shifts and suddenly Liz Lemon is at home with no recollection of how she got there. It’s a funny and seemingly absurd scene, but how many of us have had almost that exact experience (minus the baby kidnapping) when driving somewhere familiar?
There is actually a term that describes that feeling that you get when you fall into those familiar rhythms while driving and suddenly find yourself at your destination. It is called highway hypnosis and unfortunately it is more dangerous than humorous. Drivers on autopilot are not the best equipped to deal with sudden hazards on the road.
Highway hypnosis is a familiar experience for those who are driving long distances, especially for those who travel the same journey on a regular basis—which puts commuters in a particularly risky position. So if you are commuting every day you might be vulnerable to highway hypnosis. Here are some things that you can do to prevent it.
Make Sure that You Get Enough Sleep
If you are a busy person, sleep can be one of the first things that gets sacrificed. And while highway hypnosis is not exactly the same as drowsy driving, the latter definitely has a strong impact on the former. Though may not feel like you have the time to get a full night’s sleep every night, the potential risks of highway driving make it very essential.
Figure Out Your Triggers
Try to make yourself as aware as possible while you are driving. Perhaps you find yourself always zoning out on the same stretch of road or maybe the radio often distracts you from the task at hand. If so, switch off the radio and pay particular attention to everything you are doing behind the wheel whenever you reach that stretch of road. Maybe it’s a matter of figuring out how to shift your mind from thinking about work when you leave, in which case try to find a way to get your mind off your work when you leave the office—perhaps by listening to an audiobook or making sure that you wrap up all your tasks for the day before you leave.
Plan Your Commute Times
If you are always driving to and from work during times when you have low energy, you are going to be more likely to slip into a state of highway hypnosis. If you are able to, try to engage in energy-raising practices during the hours that you drive to and from work
Use Online Resources
There are a lot of ways that you can coach yourself to avoid highway hypnosis and a lot of them are available for free online. Take some time to do some research or take a defensive driving course to help you be safer in the future.
When it comes down to it, highway hypnosis is no less or more of a problem than any other driving risk. But it is something that each driver should be aware of so they can prevent it whenever possible. If left ignored, it can become a much more serious problem, but if addressed, there is no need to worry, and you can get safely to work each day.
-by Cary Teller
