Long distance and going in to a trance

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

I do a lot of motorway driving and when I get close to max hours my mind starts playing up.

For instance, I get an ‘almost’ overwhelming urge to yank the hand brake on even though I know it would be a bad idea. I have to sit on my left hand after 4 hours to stop myself doing it.

I also used to challenge myself to see how far I could drive with my eyes shut. 3 seconds is my record before realising what I am doing is dangerous. Doesn’t sound much, but think about it :cry:

Anyone else have these issues?

2

Nope, I only do a and b and c road driving, it might be the same route everyday but there is enough stuff going on to keep you alert unless you catch up with a supermarket driver doing 35mph, that sends me into a trance as my brain doesnt need to do anything at that speed.

3

I usually pull into some services work around the lorry a couple of times and get back in, that usually does it for me.

4

Squiddy:
Anyone else have these issues?

Yes, I do.

I’m always tempted by the parking brake too, not tried it yet but I don’t think it’ll be too long before I give in.

I also play this kind of memory game where if I’m on an unlit road that I know quite well in the middle of the night, I’ll switch all my lights off so I can’t see anything and drive from memory.

5

SmashedCrabFace:

Squiddy:
Anyone else have these issues?

Yes, I do.

I’m always tempted by the parking brake too, not tried it yet but I don’t think it’ll be too long before I give in.

I also play this kind of memory game where if I’m on an unlit road that I know quite well in the middle of the night, I’ll switch all my lights off so I can’t see anything and drive from memory.

I have done that too :laughing: :laughing: lasted about 5 seconds before i crapped myself and had to turn the lights back on

6

bubsy06:

SmashedCrabFace:

Squiddy:
Anyone else have these issues?

Yes, I do.

I’m always tempted by the parking brake too, not tried it yet but I don’t think it’ll be too long before I give in.

I also play this kind of memory game where if I’m on an unlit road that I know quite well in the middle of the night, I’ll switch all my lights off so I can’t see anything and drive from memory.

I have done that too :laughing: :laughing: lasted about 5 seconds before i crapped myself and had to turn the lights back on

your all crackers, your worse than toby and robk together.

wait a minuit, i wonder if robk tried this and failed?

also i now have a new signuture, cheers SCF :laughing:

7

I’ assuming this is at least semi-genuine so; I sometimes suddenly become aware of my surroundings not for any particularly special event like a car breaking or anything I just realise that I can’t remember anything for the last 10 minutes. I used to worry and think oh did I fall asleep but think that I couldn’t have because 1. I wasn’t tired and 2. I’d overtaken other lorries. I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be awake just nothing interesting has happened so brain hasn’t bothered to remember.
When I’m a passenger though I can’t look at the flashing roadwork cones because I really do go into a trance then.

8

philgor:

bubsy06:
also i now have a new signuture, cheers SCF :laughing:

You’re welcome.

It helps keep the mind sharp.

9

Don’t you think of the children during this process? :open_mouth:

10

Sam Millar:
Don’t you think of the children during this process? :open_mouth:

Nope. I have to concentrate fully on remembering where the corners are. If my concentration was to lapse and I started thinking about children, I’m bound to forget about a corner and that would make it a very dangerous game indeed.

11

I have had that urge too, also an urge just to throw the steering wheel on a right/left lock at 56 :smiling_imp:

12

Sam Millar:
Don’t you think of the children during this process? :open_mouth:

This is gonna turn into NonceNet UK if we think of the children anymore :open_mouth:

13

10-08:
I’ assuming this is at least semi-genuine so; I sometimes suddenly become aware of my surroundings not for any particularly special event like a car breaking or anything I just realise that I can’t remember anything for the last 10 minutes. I used to worry and think oh did I fall asleep but think that I couldn’t have because 1. I wasn’t tired and 2. I’d overtaken other lorries. I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be awake just nothing interesting has happened so brain hasn’t bothered to remember.
When I’m a passenger though I can’t look at the flashing roadwork cones because I really do go into a trance then.

I have also done this when i used to drive the same route every night Anglesey to leicester then back to anglesey (pallet network). The A55 seems awful long on the return journey and i would sometimes seem as if i had just jumped and woke up but would not be able to remember the last 10 miles or so but i reckon you have hit the nail on the head there with the fact that it just could be that its so boring with no other traffic that the brain just does’nt store it in memory.

Al

14

always find putting down the window and hurling abuse at cows in fields helps and god help if im overtaken by a transporter full of sheep

15

On long Journeys i sometimes end up going into a daydream thinking about something or other, then suddenly ‘snapping back’ and noticing several miles have passed since i last remembered :blush:

16

Squiddy:
I do a lot of motorway driving and when I get close to max hours my mind starts playing up.

For instance, I get an ‘almost’ overwhelming urge to yank the hand brake on even though I know it would be a bad idea. I have to sit on my left hand after 4 hours to stop myself doing it.

find an empty road and give it a go, start with trying it at 10kmh and build your way up until you see how bad an idea it really is and report back on your findings :smiley:

17

Squiddy:
I do a lot of motorway driving and when I get close to max hours my mind starts playing up.

For instance, I get an ‘almost’ overwhelming urge to yank the hand brake on even though I know it would be a bad idea. I have to sit on my left hand after 4 hours to stop myself doing it.

I also used to challenge myself to see how far I could drive with my eyes shut. 3 seconds is my record before realising what I am doing is dangerous. Doesn’t sound much, but think about it :cry:

Anyone else have these issues?

I find my left hand wanders down to the handbrake and i drive along holding it in the position like i was going to engage it. Dont know why i do it, but when i realise what i have done it does have me thinking why?

Think i might start shouting at cows in future ( i like the sound of that )

18

When I was doing night trunks to West Thurrock, on the way back up to Howden I’d get to about Grantham and suddenly realise where I was. Couldn’t remember anything from Stanstead and when I think how many roundabouts there were…

Oh and yeah, I had thoughts about yanking the handbrake on as well. And its amazing how much you can see around a full moon with the lights off…

19

The reason why most of you cant remember the last 10 miles is because you have been abducted by aliens, You must stop and check for skid marks in your undies, maybe some ■■■■■ stains. Honest its true a stobby driver told me :open_mouth:

20

Don’t listen to anything “soothing” on the radio it’s certain death, switch to the screaming thrash/death metal channel and try to work out what the hell the “lyrics” are. :wink: :laughing: