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Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the
tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure'?
Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm
system?
Maps: Do
you have up-to-date maps?
ON THE ROAD
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about 100 miles (160 km) or
two
hours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some
refreshment like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to
make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you'll want to watch for some situations not usually
found on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones,
vehicles turning left and right off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked
vehicles, and even animals.
H I G W A Y mPlVOSIS
Is
there actually such a condition as "highway hypnosis"? Or is it just
plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and
the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
and you could crash and be injured.
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