Driving blackouts
Has anyone (else) encountered mental blackouts whilst driving? I have on at least one occasion had no recollection of driving down Handcross Hill in Sussex (a notorious accident black spot) when suddenly I'm aware I'm driving past Haywards Heath, having previously been aware of driving past Gatwick. Quite disconcerting.

Also, I've found myself slamming on the anchors, following suit of the car in front when someone is playing silly buggers, knocking me out of a trance. It's good to know that some part of my brain is functioning even if it feels like I've been away with the fairies.

For the record, in 15 years of driving my licence has remained clean.
(Rilux might be pregnant and has bum-aids, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 10:52, 5 replies)

Yep.
I also have the occasional experience of driving in the inside lane on the motorway, and suddenly thinking 'Fuck me! that lorry's getting big'.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 11:17, closed)

Yes.
www.b3ta.com/questions/brainfade/post1916384
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 11:19, closed)

I often go to Yorkshire after work on a friday (from north london). Can't count the times somethings happened ahead and in an instant I'm in full defensive-driving mode but have little idea where I am.

Some sort of internal alarm wakes me up as I'm approaching the M18 exit or any sort of trouble but I rarely have any idea whats gone on in between, analysis of my GPS trace suggests I drop into some sort of driving-but-not-rememebering state and hold about 62mph. I assume I've been folowing lorries that look like they know where they are going...

Interestingly several times I've 'come round' to find myself stationary in queueing traffic, at about the point it's necessary to start moving again...
(Carpe Cyprinidae, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 11:22, closed)

Please lay off the Ketamine while driving

( Locus213 Slightly to the left of Bakunin, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 11:50, closed)

I suspect it's just a lack of concentraton.
I know what you mean though. I sometimes find myself thinking, especially after I have been fiddling with the radio or something, 'How long was I just fucking about with the radio for? Was I looking at the radio or the road for all of that time? Wonder if that was dangerous?'

Thee are only very short moments though - less than 15 seconds, I'd say.
(username failed moderation, Thu 28 Mar 2013, 12:24, closed)