The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-11-25
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new and powerful--so smooth it
seem to drive itself. It's around
noontime and you roll along the
trouble-free highway at so or 60
miles an hour.
Suddenly, you run into the rear
end of truck.
What happened?
Even if you survive you'll prob
ably never know. Perhaps they'll
say you fell asleep at the wheel.
But you were wide awake and rest
ed. Maybe they'll say you were
driving too fast. But you were go
ing only so or so, legal in North
Carolina. So maybe you were fol-
lowing the truck too closely. But
you never even saw a truck. The
road ahead was clear; you're sure
of that.
If you weren't driving and drink
ing and nothing went wrong with
your car, no one can say for. sure
what made you hit the truck.
But psychologists and some
traffic authorities have what they
think might be the answer. It's
called highway hypnosis.
State troopers have investigated
thousands of accidents easily as
signable to highway hypnosis, al
though no one had defined the
term nor, for that matter, even
invented it.
Yet no hypnotist could ask for
better conditions-complete atten-
ton of the driver to the unbroken
ribbon of road in front Of him.
So the accidents go into the. re-
cords probably as speeding, follow
ing too closely, or falling asleep at
the wheel.
Traffic experts are particularly
concerned about these mishaps be-
cause they are usually severe and
very often fatal. Occurring on rela-
lively high speed roadways with
excellent driving conditions and
few Of the usual traffic hazards to
slow you down and make you drive
a little more carefully, the high
way hypnosis accident happens
when you're hitting so mph or
more.
If highway hypnosis proves IN
deed an important cause of acct
dents, it will become even more 50
as the nation gradually adds to and
completes the 41,000 mile Inter
state system.
One authority has suggested that
drivers will have to be "stimulat-
ed and excited to the point that
the laws of self preservation will
work." What he means is that
modern highways have eliminated
many of the distractions that for
merly kept drivers alert. He points
out that by denuding highways of
such distractions (signs, lights,
etc. on the theory that it's easier
/ for the motorist to concentrate on
his driving, it actually creates a
new and far more dangerous haz-
ard from the standpoint of safety
"The ideas of highway engineers
keeping our highways somewhat
away from civilization by screen
ing from view most of the pro-
ducts of man-those things which
are of fundamental interest to hu-
man beings-is not sound" says
the authority.
That's controversial, to be sure
Still many other experts agree the
evidence is good that signs and
other roadside objects serve as
stimulants to drivers.
Essentially though, prevention OF
highway hypnosis falls into two
distinct classes features that
engineers can build into roads and
things you can do yourself to avoid
being overcome by monotony.
In the latter case, several effec-
tive ways have been suggested
Among them are:
Stop frequently on a long trip
and get out of the car for a walk
around. Drink a cup Of coffee OF
tea and relax few minutes.
If you're travelling alone, lower
the windows to create breeze in
the ear. Even in winter, too much
heat can hull you into danger.
Munich candy or chew a big wad
of gum while you're driving. Some
drivers sing as they go.
Vary your speed every Is min
utes or so on long trips. Driving
at a steady speed is one of the
connonest causes Of the drowsi-
ness that's warning signal OF
highway hypnosis.
Avoid heavy meals and overeat.
ing just before long trips. And
stay away from fried, starchy
4 foods.
Maintain a good erect posture
while at the wheel. That comfort
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