There’s a big difference between highway hypnosis and offloading the processing to your unconscious. Consciously processing the information that is coming at you while driving is just too much. Noticing everything.

Approaching intersection. Light is green. Four way intersection. Nobody turning left. Car in front of me holding speed. Black car. Behind me car holding speed red car. Pedestrians crossing in line with traffic on other side of street. No pedestrians this side. Light is still green. Car in front is still black. Car in front slowing slightly. Lane change behind me car is now green and matching my speed. Car turning right at intersection is silver and stopped to give me right of way.

Whew.

But some people definitely don’t see as much as others.

[–] Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Consciously processing the information that is coming at you while driving is just too much. Noticing everything.

Approaching intersection. Light is green. Four way intersection. Nobody turning left. Car in front of me holding speed. Black car. Behind me car holding speed red car. Pedestrians crossing in line with traffic on other side of street. No pedestrians this side. Light is still green. Car in front is still black. Car in front slowing slightly. Lane change behind me car is now green and matching my speed. Car turning right at intersection is silver and stopped to give me right of way.

Whew.

Ironically, this is the reason I love my motorbike. I can ride for hours in that state, and it feels amazing, like it's feeding the hyperfocus, hyperactive part of my brain.

The second I stop though, I'm exhausted.

[–] dunz@feddit.nu 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, same here. When I ride, it's like my brain is FINALLY busy enough with processing and doing automated tasks(leaning, shifting, braking, looking out for gravel etc) that it can stick to one thought at the time. My mind doesn't jump all over the place, I can finish my train of thought, if I want to.

I think it's because you're so awhere of your surroundings/the road surface/your body, and all the input from the world around you. Man I love riding motorcycles😃

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