Home / Random Bits / Driving in the Zone
I’ve been driving too much lately. Have you ever noticed that when you drive long distances you kind of get in the zone?
Time seems to stop.
You are on autopilot.
Your mind runs faster than your car and in 40 different directions at once.
I’ve never been hypnotized, but I can under why it’s called highway hypnosis. Does it make me crazy if I say that driving long distances alone is almost therapeutic? Now that I think about it, it does remind me of a few different quotes relating to a therapy or a cleansing feeling…
For example in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, the main character at one point is talking about how he doesn’t feel right and his wife suggests he goes driving. Here is the quote:
“I always like to drive fast when I feel that way. You get it up around ninety-five and you feel wonderful. Sometimes I drive all night and come back and you don’t know it.”
Instead of talking about how she gleefully mentions hitting animals (oops), I will move on.
Rant by Palahniuk (which I personally suggest as a read) goes a little further considering a fair part of the story is about people in cars. That feeling while driving is compared to a religious or liminal experience, among other things. In the words of Buster Casey…
“This here, far as I’m concerned, this is how church should feel.”
September 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I once drove alot for work and felt that it was my get away time and noone could bother me. Oh yeah and everytime I see a squirrel I try to hit them is that bad??
September 5th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Not if the squirrel is standing on park bench because some old person is feeding it bits of bread or sunflower seeds.
The Bradbury quote continues with something along the line of the how it’s fun out in the country and that sometimes they hit rabbits and dogs.