Red Line Fever
Kansas Eiffel
Also known as Highway Hypnosis, White Line Fever is the trance-like state that often creeps in during extended drives, where vast distances are covered, and the driver can't recall most of the journey.
Coined in 1963 by G.W. Williams, the term Highway Hypnosis builds on the theories of Ernest Hilgard, an expert in hypnosis. Hilgard argued that hypnosis is an altered state of awareness, not akin to being asleep. In the case of drivers, the mind functions, and the body reacts appropriately, yet the details of the drive slip from memory.
In the grip of automaticity, a seasoned driver effortlessly responds to the surroundings, processing information about other vehicles and potential obstacles. Conversely, a tired driver succumbs to tunnel vision, and their awareness is dramatically reduced. The concerning aspect is the tendency of tired drivers to overreact once they jolt back to reality, compensating for perceived dangers with abrupt steering maneuvers or sudden braking. This overcompensation stems from the disorientation that momentarily follows awakening.
Truckers often describe white line fever as an odd sensation, feeling somewhat detached from themselves, and expressing concerns about lapses in memory during the drive. While one may be marginally safer than the other, it is imperative to strive for situations that avoid both white line fever and tired driving for optimal safety on the road.
To fend off the onset of white line fever, regular rest becomes a non-negotiable necessity, especially for those traversing long distances or maintaining constant travel. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule aids the body in anticipating and embracing its designated rest periods, contributing to overall well-being.
Incorporating breaks to stretch your legs is pivotal. Even a brief ten-minute walk can invigorate the body, enhancing blood circulation and resetting the mind. While some may argue time constraints, the question remains, can you truly afford to neglect these essential breaks?
Diversify your auditory experience to ward off monotony-induced mental fatigue. Switching up your music genre, exploring audiobooks, or engaging in language tapes can effectively keep your mind alert and engaged.
Fuel your alertness with a cup of coffee or any caffeinated beverage. Caffeine's role as an antagonist to adenosine receptors provides a much-needed wake-up call to your system, acting as a reliable ally against the encroaching white line fever.
Engaging in conversation with a passenger serves as an effective strategy to snap out of highway hypnosis and reinvigorate your focus. For professional drivers who may not always have a human companion, the companionship of a canine co-pilot can be equally beneficial. Many truckers opt to bring their dogs on the road, not only for the joyous company but also for the heightened awareness that comes from caring for another being in the cab.
Highway hypnosis is defined as a trance-like state that drivers enter when driving for too long on an unchanging road or when navigation goes into auto-pilot. Highway hypnosis is often referred to as white line fever because the white line on the road can create a hypnotic effect, leading the driver into a state of operating in a subconscious manner.
Many times, while in a state of highway hypnosis, drivers will arrive safely at a destination with no memory of using turn signals or brakes, or noticing road signs. The hypnosis can last different periods of time, from a couple of minutes to a night of driving.
During road hypnosis, the brain is not fully aware or conscious of what is happening on the road. Reaction time is slowed, increasing the risk of an accident. Highway hypnosis is in fact considered a form of distracted driving because it can result in an accident or collision, such as running a red light or hitting the car in front of you.
This trance-like state of driving happens because of automaticity. When we learn how to do anything new, our brains learn the best strategy by remembering what to do and what not to do based on the success of our outcome. With automaticity, our learning turns less into remembering information and more into an automatic response.
By practicing an action repeatedly, our brains stop relying on conscious deliberation, which is thinking about options before choosing a solution. Instead, because of repetition, our brains make quick, automatic responses. When we drive for longer distances or do a repeated commute, the brain may bypass the need to interpret information and go straight to automated behavioral responses.
Everything is so new when we first start driving. We get used to the brakes in the car, are hyper-aware of the traffic lights, and keep two hands on the wheel. But over time, through practice and repetition, driving becomes second nature.
Highway hypnosis happens when that second nature takes over and our brains switch from processing our surroundings to a hypnotic state of practicing the behavior of driving without even thinking about the actions taken while driving.
There are similarities and differences between highway hypnosis and drowsy driving. Drowsy driving happens when a driver is too tired to stay alert, possibly to the point of falling asleep at the wheel.
Driving hypnosis can happen without our realizing it and is extremely dangerous because basic driving functions can still be carried out but with the absence of reaction time and awareness. Drowsy driving, on the other hand, lacks a subconscious awareness of the road.
Highway hypnosis can also be a result of environmental factors. A driver is more likely to experience road hypnosis while driving alone and/or on roads with little variance in the setting, like driving on a highway surrounded by fields. Although driving hypnosis can happen at all hours of the day, it most commonly occurs between midnight at 6:00am when the body is used to being asleep.
As a form of distracted driving, highway hypnosis is extremely dangerous. Because awareness is low, the risk of getting into an accident is high. A sudden emergency mixed with slow reaction time can result in a collision and have severe impacts. Highway hypnosis statistics typically are roped in with drowsy driving statistics because of their similarities. In 2017, drowsy driving resulted in 795 deaths across the U.S. Along with this number of fatalities, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates about 71,000 injuries due to crashes related to drowsy driving. All of these deaths and injuries could have been avoided by remaining alert while driving.
Highway hypnosis can happen to any driver. Truck drivers are especially prone to white line fever due to the nature of their job. Commercial drivers such as tow truck, trailer, or bus drivers are also more likely to experience highway hypnosis. In the most recent Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), it was found that 13% of crashes were associated with truck driver fatigue. These occupations are more susceptible to driving hypnosis because of long hours on the road and the potential for inconsistent sleeping patterns.
If you are a truck driver who frequently experiences highway hypnosis, the CDC has some quick tips on what to do to get better sleep, including keeping your sleeping place at a cool temperature and pulling down truck shades to block out light.
Distracted driving is a common element of auto collisions. Awareness of surroundings while driving is a crucial part of being behind the wheel. Not only are there the legal ramifications of potential lawsuits and settlement cases, but serious injuries can result from being distracted on the road.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident or have any questions on how you can avoid highway hypnosis, contact the experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyers at Wilson Kehoe Winingham. Call us at 317.669.9983 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.
I have been on HPN for 5 years, most of that time with a chest port. I have never actually had a line infection (one was suspected some years ago, but never proven - and I eventually figured out the culprit for the fevers and it was unrelated to the line). So, you can see me knocking on wood here, when I say that I've been pretty lucky so far.\n
I was feeling badly through the night and into the morning, so didn't manage to get out of bed until 11am. My temperature was 101.4. I had been feeling great leading up to this, though it's possible that I'd pushed myself working day and night through the previous work and socializing a lot too. I was surprised by the fever, and can't really quite think of any reason for it, other than just a regular old cold/flu kind of thing, or the worst case scenario - a problem with the line.\n
In the last 2 hours, it's gone down to 100.5. I hate-hate-hate even thinking about a visit to the emergency room, as these things so often take care of themselves. But I see that my Oley materials say to go to the ER when your temperature is 1 point over normal. Yikes.\n
A big clue will be if, an hour or so after you hook up, your temperature spikes. Really horrid chills are also a symptom of a line infection. If your temperature stays down while you are infusing, and doesn't climb much past 100.5 or so, the fever is probably due to something else. This has been my experience, but it wouldn't hurt to contact your doctor and get his/her take on the matter.
my fevers always start BEFORE i infuse. they do spike rigt up in the 103-105 range and nothing line related has ever been proven. if you get the rigors though that would be a sign to go to the ER.. i get them all the time and againg no cause so i myself dont really worry. my drs and nurses do but nothing ever comes of it.
I would go to the emergency room where they will draw blood for a culture. Under the Mayo Clinic protocol, the E.R. would start two antibiotics immediately, one for gram positive and one for gram negative. If they proved unnecessary, they could be discontinued later.
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