Highway hypnosis is a risk that all drivers must face. However, if you drive a truck, the ramifications for falling victim to it could be dire.  

Luckily, by understanding what highway hypnosis is – including its signs, how to beat it, and how to avoid it – you can be safer on the road. If you want to make sure you can always be at your best, here’s what you need to know.  

What Is Highway Hypnosis?  

Highway hypnosis is almost a trance-like state that can occur after extended periods on the road, particularly while driving at highway speeds or during the night. It’s isn’t an issue of fatigue, where a driver may lose focus because they’ve maintained a heightened level of alertness for a period and can’t maintain it or struggles to concentrate solely due to tiredness. Instead, it’s a condition that occurs because driving doesn’t require much conscious thought, a phenomenon called automaticity.  

A degree of automaticity can be a good thing. For example, skilled truck drivers don’t have to think about how and when to shift gears; they instinctively manage the process. However, if it’s coupled with decreased awareness of one’s surroundings or complete mental detachment, highway hypnosis can become dangerous.  

Causes of Highway Hypnosis  

A handful of factors typically contribute to highway hypnosis. First, boredom can be to blame. If the scenery remains mostly the same or a road is highly familiar, the drive isn’t particularly mentally engaging. Similarly, if the speed doesn’t change and there are no traffic issues, there’s a degree of monotony that can lead to highway hypnosis.  

Generally, being alone increases the odds of highway hypnosis. When there’s no one else in the vehicle to engage with, there aren’t any interactions to keep you in the moment. Overconfidence in a driver’s abilities can also play a role. It may cause a trucker to be less attentive.  

Signs of Highway Hypnosis  

Usually, the biggest sign of highway hypnosis is arriving at a destination without being able to recall the specifics of how you got there. Mostly, it’s the sensation of previously being on auto-pilot. Tunnel vision may also indicate highway hypnosis, as well as signs that your attention is fading, like hitting rumble strips or crossing over lane lines.  

Even muscle stiffness and pain may suggest highway hypnosis. When you’re in that mental state, you aren’t likely to adjust your body position, leading to discomfort once you refocus in the present.  

How to Overcome (or Avoid) Highway Hypnosis  

The biggest key to avoiding highway hypnosis is to be well-rested. Fatigue makes it hard to maintain your focus, so getting enough sleep and taking proper breaks is a must. Additionally, avoiding staying in the same position for too long makes a difference. Pausing at rest stops, and getting up to move around can reduce physical strain, so consider taking the time to get up and stretch every hundred miles.  

Keeping the cab of your truck cool can make a difference. Warm temperatures may promote a more relaxed state. Cracking a window to create a breeze may also increase attentiveness.  

Choosing the right music may also help. Select high-energy songs to keep you feeling alert. You could also focus on tracks that you can sing along with, as that gives you a way to engage with the music.  

Finally, find opportunities to break up the monotony of long drives. Keep your eyes moving by actively reading every passing sign or considering the make and model of passing vehicles. That way, you aren’t just watching while road lines pass by, something that you could lead to highway hypnosis.  

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