White Line Fever, or Highway Hypnosis, is an altered state of mind in which a driver can respond to external events, such as changing lanes or taking a turn, without knowledge of having done so. This automatic response results in the repeated actions of driving, which in turn allows the driver to subconsciously make the correct decisions while driving. Through my photography I document this phenomenon along with signifiers intended to pull you out of this altered state of mind.
I found myself traveling between Nacogdoches and my home in Houston quite often which has led to a great familiarity in the route I take, as well as the action of driving itself. This familiarity has led me to not remember every action I take while driving. These gaps in memory garnered my interest resulting in an exploration of this phenomenon, as well as what role the road takes in preventing or allowing it.
Road conditions and infrastructure can greatly affect one’s focus on driving. For example, rumble strips placed on the shoulders of the road can alert a driver to the danger of pulling off too far to the side, which results in a driver having to consciously correct themself. Other signifiers, such as road signs, placed and colored in a significant way, grab a driver’s attention and bring their focus back to driving. I use these signifiers within my photographs to generate an understanding regarding White Line Fever’s results and the effect the physical road has on it.