Road Dementia

"Dementia"

this is a genetic condition/disease that some people get when they get old. some even get it when they are young, though rare.

it has nothing to do with driving.............so keeping your eyes "fixed" on one object doesn't apply here.

you need to actually read the definition of Dementia.............


and in case you don't want to look up some facts, here are some:

http://www.neurologyreviews.com/may02/nr_may02_demdrivers.html


and here is somemore:

http://www.neurologychannel.com/dementia/

 

Thanx Prodriver....I now know more about dimentia that I did 5 mins ago.

 

Highway Hypnosis is something that affects drivers.

 

I do believe that being a nightime tractor trailer driver adversly
effects peoples overall thought process. Perhaps dementia
is not the best term but your on the right track. Lack of
quality sleep. High amounts of stress (Like in NYNY). Changing
your sleep hours. Sitting in one place hour after hour. Eating
lousy food that taste good but hurts your circulation.
Listening to constant cussing on the CB or depressing news
on the XM. All of this leads to brain rot and a shortend life
span.Go to a truck stop somtimes and look at those truckers
that are so big they have to adjust the seats all the way down
to fit behind the steering wheel and ask yourself what were they
thinking? Thats why it you are just getting into truck driving
you owe it to yourself to take the time to get enough
exercise to maintain a reasonable weight. This also
helps keep your stress level down which helps your
thought process.

 

I chew for alomg time and yes if you never chew before you can get a high. Especially the hard stuff. I glade i quit 6 years ago.

 

As a DOT physical exam physician, I guess I can speak from experience on this issue. Your problem could run a gamut of conditions. It could be as simple as fatigue causing your problem, it could be a Vitamin A defeciency cusing visual issues, it could be more serious such as diabetes or an actual visual aquity problem. My suggestion is you see your family doctor as soon as you can and relate your symptoms to him/her. Some blood work will probably be ordered. You may even have to undergo a stress test. Most of these symptoms are benign, but you have to realize you are rolling down the road with tons of cargo and steel. IF something is more involved, then you owe it to yourself and to the driving public to get it checked out. Let me know what you find out.

 

Especialy if your like me, drive the same route day in and day out. Lucky for me, I do know some alt routes to take to help keep me alert and I do use them.

 

That is for sure, and something for those who want to run dedicated routes to think about. I ran from Fort Worth, Texas to The the San Francisco area, and back to Fort Worth every week for quite a while. It became mind numbing to say the least, especially the entire time spent in California driving somewhat close to the speed limit there. Same weigh stations, mostly the same pickup points, always the same final delivery point back in Fort Worth, home for a day or two, then back out on Saturday evening to start it all over again for a Monday morning delivery at the Bay.