Do you sometimes find yourself "zoning out" while driving on the highway?

[NFS4]

[Preface] I had plenty of sleep, I was not drunk and no I wasn't on my cellphone [/Preface]

OK, I was driving back home to Raleigh today from Charlotte on I-85 and on a number of occassions (as has happened in the past), I just completely "zone out" while driving. i.e., I'll be driving then totally forget what happened in the last few miles or so, or I just seem to go on autopilot and not really process anything that's going on around me. Everything from speeding up to changing lanes just seems so automatic and monotonous as if I don't have any control over what's going on. Then I all of a sudden come to the realization that I'm actually DRIVING.

It always freaks me out when I "catch" myself

 

[Occifer]

Yep, happens to me once in a while...

 

[Shawn]

happens to me all the time. :Q

 

[Crusty]

Just drove to and from Denver from Houston...15 hours straight...happened quite a bit.

 

[WTT0001]

Yup, all the time for me too. I average around 40,000 miles a year at this point

 

[Storm]

Originally posted by: Occifer
Yep, happens to me once in a while...

 

[matt426malm]

I zone out all the time driving or not

 

[TheBDB]

Originally posted by: iloveme2
happens to me all the time. :Q

 

[Ikonomi]

Yeah, now and then. It's not the kind of zone out where you'll run off the road or into something, but everything becomes pretty automatic. Doesn't really surprise or startle me, but I get annoyed when I can't remember anything that just happened.

 

[Flyermax2k3]

I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

 

[StageLeft]

You drive a Toyota Camry, so it's not surprising

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Everything from speeding up to changing lanes just seems so automatic and monotonous as if I don't have any control over what's going on. Then I all of a sudden come to the realization that I'm actually DRIVING.

That sounds perfectly normal considering you drive a Toyota.

<rimshot>


edit: DAMN YOU SKOORB!!!!!!!!!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

It's not a matter of taking chances with your life or others. It just HAPPENS. I find it hard to believe that it has NEVER happened to you. That's like saying that you've never let your mind wander while listening to a class lecture. Sometimes you do it yourself, sometimes you have no control over your mind wandering off someplace else.

 

[Francodman]

yeah but only when i'm drunk

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

It's not a matter of taking chances with your life or others. It just HAPPENS. I find it hard to believe that it has NEVER happened to you. That's like saying that you've never let your mind wander while listening to a class lecture. Sometimes you do it yourself, sometimes you have no control over your mind wandering off someplace else.

Totally different situations. My mind wanders in class more often than not, but on the road I refuse to be distracted.

 

[matt426malm]

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

Zone out while posting?

 

[TheBDB]

Driving doesn't require concentration.

 

[Flyermax2k3]

Originally posted by: matt426malm

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

Zone out while posting?

LOL, a few times

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Under the same conditions as you. Yes. Its really upsetting in a way.
Try forgetting 50 miles on a motorcycle.

I find that constantly checking my mirrors
and changing my focus object in front of me helps a great deal. If I can stop and walk around it helps. At night, it used to be called white line fever because of the hypnotic effect of the dash, dash, dash, painted lines going by.

Its strange when I feel that I could just step out of the car and stand by it.

 

[Kadarin]

Years ago (like 1984), when I was in Drivers' Ed in high school, they called this phenomenon "highway hypnotism". It's a very real effect. It even happens to Flyermax2k3, but he's too busy moralizing here to realize it.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Flyermax2k3
I can honestly say I've never zoned out while driving. I'm always in complete control. I am by no means perfect but I don't take chances with my life and the lives of others. Being alert at all times is a prerequisite to driving.

It's not a matter of taking chances with your life or others. It just HAPPENS. I find it hard to believe that it has NEVER happened to you. That's like saying that you've never let your mind wander while listening to a class lecture. Sometimes you do it yourself, sometimes you have no control over your mind wandering off someplace else.

Totally different situations. My mind wanders in class more often than not, but on the road I refuse to be distracted.

Any time your mind is seeing the same thing over and over and the same scenery over and over, your brain starts going on "idle mode"...at least mine does sometimes. All you see are dividings lines and trees lining the highways and you're going at a pretty constant speed. Same, Same Same...

OTOH, it NEVER happens to me when I'm driving in the city b/c there is just so much going on and a much greater variety of activitites going on (stoplights, stop signs, intersections, turning lanes, cars braking to turn, etc.).

 

[thebestMAX]

Uh oh, early onset oldtimers!

Yeah, think it is quite normal. Remember driving home to KC and thinking just 15 more miles to my exit and winding (waking) up in Liberty, Mo about 15 miles past.

Maybe it was an alien abduction??

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: iloveme2
happens to me all the time. :Q

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Years ago (like 1984), when I was in Drivers' Ed in high school, they called this phenomenon "highway hypnotism". It's a very real effect. It even happens to Flyermax2k3, but he's too busy moralizing here to realize it.

AGREED:beer:

 

[Yossarian]

Yes, I have pulled over before to regroup when that has happened.