What is the term for when you are driving fast, like on a highway, then come off onto local roads and perceive your speed as being slower than it actually is? Meaning, you were going 50 and come off to where the speed limit is 30. You are still doing 50, but because your perception is out of whack, you think you are driving 30. I know there is a word for this condition and it is driving me nuts!
2007-12-04 11:15:35 · 14 answers · asked by d.viant 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
busted by the cops & looking 4 a get out clause !
2007-12-04 11:19:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have the same feeling. But I speed all the time, so now going anything under 35 feels like a slugs pace.
I would say it simply has something to do with perception.
You're on a highway doing 75 and then you drive into a suburban area where the speed limit is 35, that 35 mph feels more like 5 mph. It's simply because you got used to driving so fast before, and your mind hasn't caught up with the change of pace. There may be a term for it, but I don't know what it's called.
2007-12-04 19:18:41 · answer #2 · answered by Stardust 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if it is the term you are looking for, but I have always called it "mental inertia". The proper name, I believe is "highway hypnosis". I have long since trained myself to watch for it. Years back I was going close to 100mph on a nice gravel country road (a shortcut), and I clearly remember seeing a sign saying there was a sharp curve ahead, 20 mph limit. I also remember saying, "that's nice, a sharp curve". Well I hit that curve at 100 mph, and in a split second had to figure out how to shave some speed before I started turning and sliding off sideways. I shaved speed with very quick threshold braking, then hit the gas again to push myself (RWD car) toward the exit point of the curve. It was the type of manoeuvre you learn in a performance emergency driving school, and very similar to a properly executed short drift (nothing like the parking lot showoff, by the way). That was 30 years ago, and I have never, ever, allowed mental intertia to happen to me again.
Edit Dec 6
I remember the proper term, it is "Velocitization", and is defined as the basic feeling you get when driving at a high speed for a long time and the speed no longer feels fast. Velocitization makes driving on the freeway less scary and makes it easier to go with the flow of traffic. When you get off the highway, and are halfway down the ramp, you check your speedometer only to find you are doing 80km/hr (50mph) in a 50km/hr (30mph) speed limit. So you slow down till you feel like you are almost crawling, check again, but your still speeding! So you slow down even more, but you’re still speeding! And again, till you finally settle on speeding just a bit.
2007-12-04 21:33:36 · answer #3 · answered by Fred C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Speed Perception?
2007-12-04 19:24:35 · answer #4 · answered by Denise M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have it use cruise control only if you know how to disarm it. Otherwise take a break from the fast freeway to the residential area by stopping at a gas station and getting a gallon of gas and cleaning the windows. It works!
2007-12-04 21:25:27 · answer #5 · answered by hot wheels 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acclimitization
A driver may become acclimated to the higher speed of his car and other traffic, and has to make a conscious adjustment to REacclimate to the lower speed limit.
2007-12-06 15:11:08 · answer #6 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Inertia
2007-12-04 19:19:19 · answer #7 · answered by yashQAme 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A news report years ago called that "velocification".
2007-12-05 00:21:29 · answer #8 · answered by haacer 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes you can kill someone in an 30 lane
2007-12-04 19:19:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
LOL.. thats true but you know what i think they cange it so that you know to slow down.....
2007-12-04 19:18:17 · answer #10 · answered by MUNECA LOCA 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋