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Your Driving and the Road
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.
Highway Uypnosis
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
a
second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that
it
can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check
your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time
to time.
This can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness.
But
don't wear sunglasses at night. They will drastically reduce your overall
vision at the very time you need all the seeing power you have.
I f you get sleepy, pull
off the road into
a
rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get
some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsines!
on the highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate
following distances..
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