roadwise.Open study app

District of Columbia driving lesson · Safe Driving Fundamentals

Fatigue & highway hypnosis

A 3-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Safe Driving Fundamentals
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
5, 25, 26

Sleep deprivation affects driving just as much as alcohol, and sometimes more. It is a major cause of crashes, and the usual tricks for staying awake don't work.

Drowsy driving

Operating a motor vehicle while impaired due to lack of sleep. Being drowsy is the first stage of falling asleep.

Handbook p. 5 ↗

Know the rule

Rolling down the windows or turning up the music has little to no effect on alertness, and coffee or caffeine gives only a short-term boost. Getting adequate sleep is the best way to prevent drowsy driving.

Handbook p. 5 ↗

Know the rule

Make sleep a daily priority, refuse to drive when sleep-deprived, and pull off the road to a safe location when sleepy.

Handbook p. 5 ↗

Highway hypnosis

Being unaware of what is happening while driving, caused by monotony: the sound of the wind, the tires and the steady hum of the engine.

Handbook p. 25 ↗

To avoid drowsiness and highway hypnosis:

  • At the first signs of drowsiness, do something positive; don't just try to fight it
  • At the first rest or service area, pull off to nap, stretch, take a break or change drivers
  • Don't depend on "stay-awake" drugs; they can make driving more hazardous
  • Keep the interior of the car as cool as possible
  • Keep shifting your eyes near and far, left and right; avoid staring straight ahead
  • Shift your position in the seat
  • Talk to your companion or listen to the radio
  • Vary your speed slightly from time to time
Handbook p. 26 ↗

Danger signs of a drowsy driver:

  • Your eyes close or go out of focus by themselves
  • You have trouble keeping your head up
  • You can't stop yawning
  • You have wandering, disconnected thoughts
  • You don't remember driving the last few miles
  • You missed your exit
  • You keep drifting out of your lane
  • Your speed becomes variable
Handbook p. 26 ↗

Know the rule

If you become tired or sleepy while driving, it is best to rest or, if possible, change drivers. Being tired dulls your mind and slows your reactions.

Handbook p. 26 ↗

Put it into practice

Two hours into a night drive you realize you don't remember the last few miles and you just missed your exit. Those are danger signs. Pull off at the next rest area to nap or switch drivers. Coffee and loud music won't fix it.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is 'highway hypnosis' caused by, according to the handbook?
  1. Bright headlights from oncoming traffic
  2. Monotony from wind, tires, and engine hum
  3. Excessive caffeine intake
  4. Poor tire tread

Answer: Monotony from wind, tires, and engine hum

Highway hypnosis is caused by the monotonous sounds of driving: wind, tires, and engine hum.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
What is recommended as the best way to prevent drowsy driving?
  1. Rolling down the windows
  2. Turning up the music
  3. Getting enough sleep beforehand
  4. Taking stay-awake drugs

Answer: Getting enough sleep beforehand

The handbook says getting adequate sleep is the best way to prevent drowsy driving; window/music tricks have little effect.

Handbook p. 5 ↗
Which is listed as a danger sign of a drowsy driver?
  1. You feel slightly bored
  2. You are driving under the speed limit
  3. You glance at your mirrors often
  4. Not remembering the last few miles driven

Answer: Not remembering the last few miles driven

Danger signs include not remembering recent driving, missing your exit, and drifting out of your lane.

Handbook p. 26 ↗
What should you do at the first signs of drowsiness while driving, per the handbook?
  1. Pull off to rest or switch drivers
  2. Keep driving and try to push through it
  3. Turn the radio off completely
  4. Roll up the windows to stay warm

Answer: Pull off to rest or switch drivers

At the first signs of drowsiness, take positive action such as resting, stretching, or switching drivers.

Handbook p. 25 ↗
Coffee provides a long-term boost to alertness that fully prevents drowsy driving.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook notes caffeine gives only a short-term energy boost, not a lasting fix for drowsiness.

Handbook p. 5 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Safe Driving Fundamentals

All District of Columbia lessons