TEXT 11

ZOMBIE ON THE ROAD

 

Next weekend brings one of the year’s big peaks for traffic on the roads and with it the risk of the mesmerising effect of covering long distances on motorways.

The phenomenon is not new: it was first recognized in the 1960s in the United States, where the term “highway hypnosis” was coined to describe it.

But the expansion of Britain’s motorway network with the completion of the M25 may be encouraging many drivers to attempt greater mileages at a stretch this summer, to the concern of the Guild of Experienced Motorists. Driving on and on at a steady speed, a driver’s level of alertness can deteriorate.

“Highway hypnosis” can cause the driver to start feeling detached, more like a spectator rather than the person actually controlling the vehicle.

As concentration ebbs, he or she starts to pay less attention tj what is happening and everything seems to float by. A trance-like automation sets in. The serious danger then is that a combination of fatigue, the steady drone of the car and the somnolence of a warm day may actually make a driver nod off at the wheel.

The problem is so well recognized in Canada as a summer hazard that the Ontario Ministry of Transportations and Communications has issued a set of advisory rules to guide drivers.

 

Matching Exercise 

 

The ‘advisory rules” mentioned in the last paragraph have become mixed up. Can you find the matching half for each of the nine rules?

 

Don’t eat Talk to passengers Keep your eyes moving Take an interest Don’t try to drive Keep the temperature Avoid driving Take a coffeee or Wear

comfortable clothing during  normal sleeping hours in the car cool but not to the point of distraction and check your rear-view mirror often walking break every hour in all road signs and traffic around a heavy meal before driving too far in one day

 

Warm-up

1. Do you enjoy driving on a motorway or a major highway?

2. Do you prefer it to driving on ordinary roads?

3. What are the advantages of the motorway or major highway?

4. Are there any disadvantages?

 

Vocabulary 

1. Pick out from the text as many words as you can find which are assoociated with sleep, dreaming or tiredness. Use dictionaries for this.

 

Discussion 

Discuss all potential dangers of motorway.