Thread by @ReduceRoadRisks

A thread discussing #HighwayHypnosis. Definition: Highway hypnosis, also known as white line fever, is an altered mental state in which a person can drive an automobile great distances, responding to external events in the expected, safe, and correct manner... 1/10

https://twitter.com/InsAdmnHYDTP/status/1662762891051937793

...with no recollection of having consciously done so”. – Weiten, Wayne (2003). Psychology Themes and Variations (6th ed.). Belmont, California: Wadsworth/Thomas Learning.

It is a trance-like state brought about by monotony and, to some extent, fatigue. 2/10

Lack of auditory input (in-car conversations), or monotonous music (some drivers play music/chanting tracks on an infinite loop) is a common cause.

Single drivers, or with passengers fast asleep, on a boring highway may suffer this. 3/10

There are no signs & symptoms of a highway hypnotized driver, and s/he will continue to stay within lanes, respond to obstacles and curves on the road by braking / swerving safely, maybe a little slowly. Only, s/he remembers none of it. 4/10

#HighwayHypnosis is not the same as #drowsydriving or fatigued driving, where lack of sleep is a major trigger. There are specific #signsandsymptoms that a #drowsydriver can display, and the driver or passengers can easily notice them and pull over & stop. Look for... 5/10

Signs of #drowsydriving:
1. Yawning frequently;
2. Fidgeting in one's seat;
3. Rubbing face & eyes;
4. Rolling down window;
... 6/10

5. Changing AC settings frequently;
6. Changing channels/sound volume frequently;
7. Driving faster/slower than usual;
8. Drifting across lanes;
9. Lights hurt one's eyes. 7/10

#HighwayHypnosis is the automotive equivalent of #sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers don't knock against furniture and hurt themselves. They show reasonably good motor control over their body, without the brain being active... 8/10

- and no memory retained of the episode. Sleepwalkers are also capable of picking up keys and going for a drive, without remembering it - but they don't end up in a crash. So #HighwayHypnosis is a much lesser cause of accidents than #drowsydriving or #distracteddriving. 9/10

#HighwayHypnosis cannot be used as an umbrella term for all types of #DrowsyDriving, #DistractedDriving, #DrunkDriving or #UntrainedDriving. For the sake of #RoadSafety, #TrainIndiansToDriveBetter. 10/10

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