1993 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 193

long-distance driving?Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure? Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as"highway hypnosis"? Or is it just plain falling asleepat the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine,and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don't let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. On the Road Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with others. Limitturns behind the wheel to about 100 miles (160 km) or twohours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stopfor some refreshment like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to make some people sleepy. On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do not have controlled access, you'll want to watch for some situationsnot usually found on freeways. Examples are: stop signsand signals, shopping centers with direct access tothe highway, no passing zones and school zones, vehicles turning left and right off the road, pedestrians, cyclists,parked vehicles, and even animals. 191