(UNDATED) You’ve driven the same stretch of road countless times. Then suddenly, you’re there — with no clear memory of the last few miles.
Psychologists say that feeling isn’t sleep or distraction. It’s something called “highway hypnosis,” a mental state where the brain quietly hands over control during repetitive tasks, like driving a familiar route. According to Marquette University psychology professor Dr. Steven Guastello, the brain is designed to do this as a way to conserve mental energy.
The problem is what comes with it. When drivers slip into this automatic mode, they can miss slow, subtle changes around them — a phenomenon known as change blindness. Guastello, who spoke with our sister station 620 WTMJ, warns that treating the windshield like a TV screen instead of the real world can cause drivers to overlook important shifts in traffic or road conditions.
Experts say staying engaged is the key to breaking out of the “zombie zone.” Listening to the radio or a podcast can help keep the mind active without becoming a distraction. They also caution against overreliance on vehicle technology, stressing that no matter how advanced a car becomes, the driver still needs to stay mentally in control.
