Highway Hypnosis: How to Avoid White Line Fever?

Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

We’ve all been there: cruising along the highway lost in thought or captivated by the rhythmic motion of the car. Before you know it, miles have passed, and you don’t recall any of it. This phenomenon, known as “highway hypnosis” or “white line fever,” poses serious risks. It blurs the line between consciousness and unconsciousness while driving, a time when your full attention is crucial.

Understanding highway hypnosis and how to avoid it can ensure you stay safe while driving.

What is Highway Hypnosis?

Highway hypnosis, also known as white line fever driving, refers to a state of altered consciousness that occurs during prolonged highway driving. In this mental state, you become disengaged from your immediate surroundings and may lose awareness of time, distance, and your own actions.

Despite your eyes being open and hands on the wheel, you enter autopilot mode, where your conscious mind is not fully engaged on driving. Some common causes of highway hypnosis include:

• Monotonous environment: Driving on long, straight highways with little variation in scenery can lead to a lack of visual stimulation, causing you to become less engaged.
• Repetitive driving: Frequently taking the same route, especially during daily commutes, can create a sense of familiarity that may contribute to reduced alertness.
• Fatigue and drowsiness: Inadequate rest before or during a trip can impair cognitive function and increase the likelihood of experiencing highway hypnosis.
• Inattention: Engaging in activities that divert attention from the road, such as daydreaming or using mobile devices, can lead to distracted driving.

The Effect of Highway Hypnosis on Driving Performance

Driving a vehicle is a complex task that demands continuous attention and cognitive processing. Highway hypnosis can have a significant impact on driving performance. Here’s a deeper look into the effects of highway hypnosis:

• Reduced reaction time: When under the influence of highway hypnosis, a driver’s reaction time can be considerably slower. This sluggishness means that the driver might not react quickly enough to sudden changes in the driving environment, like an abrupt stop by the car ahead or an unexpected pedestrian.
• Decreased awareness of surroundings: Highway hypnosis often leads to decreased environmental awareness. Drivers might not notice road signs, exit ramps, or changes in traffic patterns, making them more prone to missing turns or even driving off the road.
• Impaired decision making: As the driver’s conscious awareness dips, so does their ability to make split-second decisions. This impaired judgment can result in risky driving behaviors like not maintaining a safe following distance or neglecting to check blind spots.
• Memory lapses: One of the hallmark signs of highway hypnosis is not remembering sections of the drive. These gaps in memory can be alarming, especially if a driver can’t recall the last several minutes or miles of their journey.
• Increased susceptibility to distractions: When in a trance-like state, drivers might become more easily distracted by their thoughts or external factors like the radio, further diminishing their driving performance.
• Reduced coordination: The physical coordination between the eyes, hands, and feet, essential for safe driving, can become disjointed during episodes of highway hypnosis. This could lead to issues like inconsistent speed, swerving, or erratic braking.
• Potential for microsleeps: Highway hypnosis and drowsiness can sometimes overlap. In these cases, drivers can experience “microsleeps,” where they doze off for a few seconds without even realizing it. These brief lapses can be extremely dangerous at high speeds.

What Happens if a Driver with Highway Hypnosis Hits You?

If you are involved in an accident caused by a driver experiencing highway hypnosis, determining negligence is essential to receive compensation for your injuries. In Michigan, negligence is a critical factor in personal injury cases, including car accidents. It is established based on four elements:

• Duty of care: The driver has a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and responsibly, following all traffic laws and taking reasonable measures to prevent harm to others on the road.
• Breach of duty: The driver fails to meet the standard of care by engaging in negligent behavior, such as driving while fatigued or mentally impaired due to highway hypnosis.
• Causation: There must be a direct link between the driver’s breach of duty and the accident. If highway hypnosis is determined to be the cause of the accident, it may be considered negligent driving.
• Damages: The accident results in measurable damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.

White line driving can be considered a form of negligent driving because the driver fails to maintain the required level of attention and awareness necessary to operate their vehicle safely. While it may not involve intentional wrongdoing, it still represents a breach of the duty of care owed to other road users.

How to Prove Highway Hypnosis to Win Compensation?

Proving highway hypnosis can be challenging because it is not easy to measure or observe. Unlike alcohol or drugs, there is no definitive test or indicator for highway hypnosis. However, there are some ways to gather evidence and support your claim:

• Police report: The police report may contain information about the driver’s behavior before and after the accident, such as whether they admitted to being tired or distracted, showed signs of confusion or disorientation, or had any prior violations or accidents.
  The responding officers’ statements and observations at the scene can provide valuable insights into the driver’s state of mind.
• Witness statements: Witnesses may have seen the driver’s actions on the road, such as erratically swerving, drifting, speeding, or braking. They may also have heard the driver’s statements at the accident scene, which could provide clues about their mental state or potential distractions.
• Expert testimony: An expert witness, such as a psychologist or a medical professional with expertise in cognitive impairment, can explain the causes and effects of highway hypnosis based on scientific research and studies.
  They can analyze the driver’s physical and mental condition at the time of the accident, objectively evaluating whether highway hypnosis was a contributing factor.
• Medical records: Medical records may show that the driver had a history of sleep disorders, medication use, or other health issues that could contribute to highway hypnosis. Conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, or certain medications can affect a person’s alertness and concentration while driving.
• Driving records: Reviewing the driver’s driving history can reveal patterns of behavior that might indicate a higher risk of experiencing highway hypnosis. For example, a history of driving for extended periods without breaks or driving long distances at night could be relevant in understanding the driver’s fatigue levels.
• Phone records: In some cases, phone records may indicate distracted driving or other factors contributing to the driver’s cognitive disengagement. Texting or talking on the phone while driving can divert a driver’s attention and increase the likelihood of experiencing highway hypnosis.
• Video surveillance: If the accident occurred in an area with video surveillance, obtaining footage of the driver’s behavior before the collision could be beneficial. Video evidence can provide a visual record of the driver’s actions and help establish their state of mind or level of attentiveness.

What if You Were Partially at Fault?

If you were the driver experiencing highway hypnosis and it contributed to the accident, you may be able to still recover damages for any injuries sustained due to Michigan’s comparative fault law.

According to the comparative fault law, you can recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you will be ineligible for compensation.

If you are found to be partially at fault for the accident, your total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault and the total damages amount to $100,000, you receive $80,000.

Tips for Avoiding Highway Hypnosis

Highway hypnosis can compromise safety. Fortunately, there are several strategies drivers can use to fend off this phenomenon and remain alert:

• Take frequent breaks: Schedule regular rest stops every 2 hours or 100 miles during long drives, allowing yourself to stretch, walk around, and refresh your mind.
• Rotate drivers: Share driving responsibilities with others to prevent fatigue and maintain alertness. Taking turns behind the wheel can combat drowsiness and reduce the risk of white line driving if you’re on a long road trip.
• Stay engaged: Listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, and chat with passengers to keep your mind active. Changing radio stations or adjusting the volume occasionally helps keep your mind engaged.
• Change scenery: Vary your route or take scenic byways to keep the driving experience interesting. If there are multiple routes to your destination, consider taking different ones to break the monotony of the road.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can exacerbate fatigue, so drink plenty of water during your journey. Avoid excessive caffeinated beverages, as they may provide only short-term alertness.
• Get enough sleep: Ensure you are well-rested before starting on a long drive to reduce the risk of drowsy driving.
• Avoid fatigue-inducing medications: Certain medications, including over-the-counter products like cough syrup, can cause drowsiness, so be mindful of their effects before driving. If you’re taking medication that induces drowsiness, avoid driving or find alternative transportation.
• Use the five senses technique: Regularly engage all five senses while driving—look at your surroundings, listen to different sounds, feel the steering wheel and road vibrations, smell the fresh air, and even taste a snack if it’s safe to do so. This technique can help you remain mentally alert and focused.
• Maintain a comfortable cabin temperature: Avoid a warm, cozy cabin which can induce drowsiness. A slightly cooler temperature can help you stay alert.
• Drive during your most alert hours: If possible, avoid driving during your body’s natural downtime, typically between midnight and 6 a.m. or mid-afternoon.
• Keep your eyes moving: Regularly shift your gaze. Look at objects near and far, left and right. This helps prevent your eyes from getting fixated and zoning out.
• Use the vehicle’s features: Open a window slightly for fresh air. Adjust seat positioning to ensure you’re sitting up straight, which can help maintain alertness.
• Use roadside services: If you feel overwhelmingly tired or zoned out, consider stopping at a rest area or even checking into a hotel. Safety should always come first.

Prioritizing Alertness: The Key to Safer Journeys

If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident caused by highway hypnosis, let the experienced car accident attorneys Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. take on your case and fight for your rights. Our team is dedicated to assisting accident victims in seeking the compensation they deserve.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and learn more about highway hypnosis and how to avoid it with our skilled team by your side.

Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at (1-866-779-7331) and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.

Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.