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Highway Hypnotism: What Every New Truck Driver Needs To Know

16 June 2015 by Arianna Tucker

As a new trucker, your mind is likely focused on finding a company to work for or choosing a semi-truck that is perfect for hauling various loads. The last thing you may have on your mind is long drives, sleepless nights, and the threat of highway hypnotism. Any driver can experience highway hypnosis. However, it most often occurs among those who drive long distances, such as truck drivers. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent highway hypnosis.

Understanding Highway Hypnosis

To begin with, highway hypnosis, or "white line fever," is a mental condition in which a person drives from point A to point B without remembering how they got there. A person suffering from highway hypnosis is able to drive their vehicle in a trance-like state-of-mind, which hinders their ability to react to certain situations such as heavy traffic, construction, and more.

Causes of Highway Hypnosis

The causes of highway hypnosis vary, though the most common cause is an overworked, overtired driver. According to one report, fatigued truckers account for approximately 750 deaths and 20,000 injuries per year. For that reason, commercial truck drivers, such as semi drivers, must sleep a minimum of 8 hours prior to driving a maximum of 10 hours straight.

Although fatigue is the primary cause for highway hypnosis, there are other factors to consider. For example, new drivers may feel overconfident in their driving abilities, which makes them pay less attention to the road. Additionally, driving long distances down stretches of highway with little to no changes in scenery may make you "zone out." Without anything to stimulate you, you are at an increased risk of highway hypnosis.

Another factor to consider is that driving down a long stretch of road makes you susceptible to tunnel vision. Tunnel vision occurs when you stare out at the road that is a distance ahead of you rather than paying attention to what is immediately in front and around you. Tunnel vision can lead to an altered state of mind, which can then lead to highway hypnosis.

Avoiding Highway Hypnosis

There are a few things you can do to avoid highway hypnosis, such as:

• Get Some Rest: This may seem like common knowledge, but there are many truckers who ignore the rules and regulations of safe driving, particularly in relation to sleep. Truckers focus more on getting their load to a particular destination ahead of schedule rather than sleeping.
• Change Your Route: Rather than taking the same driving route over and over again, change it up in order to stimulate your brain. Although it may take longer to reach your destination, take the scenic route. The scenic route may offer things to see that you have never seen before, thereby keeping you fully aware of your surroundings.
• Train Your Brain: Train your brain to focus for longer periods using the Pomodoro Method. The Pomodoro Method typically supports a 15 minute break every 25 minutes. However, that may not work for a truck driver, so the other two methods that work include a 15 minute break every 90 minutes or at least two 15 minute breaks a day, which includes one break in the morning and another in the afternoon.
• Choose Your Employer Wisely: If highway hypnosis proves bothersome, you may have to find an employer that keeps you closer to home. There are many local jobs for semi drivers, which means no more long-distance traveling. Diminishing long-distance traveling from your schedule can help you avoid highway hypnosis.
• Do Not Become Overconfident: No matter if you are a new truck driver or you have been a truck driver for the last 20 years, never feel overconfident with your driving abilities. Always be aware of your surroundings and know that anything can happen in a split-second. Avoiding overconfidence ensures that you are paying closer attention to the road.

There are several companies looking to hire commercial truck drivers. As a new trucker, finding a job should not prove difficult. Finding the perfect semi to get the job done may be equally as simple, especially when you use sites like http://www.arrowtruck.com/. That is why it is important that you take the time to learn about various safety measure for safe truck driving, including the ones listed above.

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