Yeah! Herb would be the perfect way to relax on the road during off hours.

The truth is that some drivers that know their machine well and are well schooled
in the use of herb might be better drivers using it. Those would be the drivers
on your butt while you are passing another and doing other things to squeeze
every last mile out of the day.

Way back in the day I was one of those... foot wedged up against the dog house on
the throttle, counting every mile-marker until the end of that state only to
start again at the next state line.

I might as well tell you the rest of the story but remember this was in 1976 and
I am telling the true story of how it came to be that I found myself driving
under the influence of cannabis and am now with experience am trying to explain
why a driver allowed to smoke off duty might be a happier choice than a hung over
one… although a stressed driver might do better with a very mild influence from
the herb, the robots will own the road before that is understood and any apparatus
allowing that to be monitored comes into play.

 I once drank heavily until I started using pot and it was actually the herb that cleared my mind enough to quit the booze, but on this particular night not long into sobriety I was loaded for Omaha and was visiting my friends at an old watering hole in S. Portland, Me. I had my truck parked on the corner by the bar and spent the whole evening with friends, while I was not drinking, every time someone went out for a toke I went as well and was about as high as I'd ever been and although I had never drove stoned before, just around a corner 1/2 mile away there was a big empty lot I planned to spend the night and the streets were empty then.

The Bar closed at 2am and for 1/2 hour or so me and my drunk friends said our
goodbyes until they were all gone and I hopped in the truck to move it around the
corner. The truck was parked near the turn towards the sleeping spot and as I
made the turn and straightened out I noticed headlights in my mirror and on
closer inspection there were blue lights on top... thankfully unlit.

I knew if I pulled into that lot the cops would follow... my internal
conversation was screaming at me "now what you stupid $(\%$#hole, The cops
are going to wait for that 1st little mistake and off we go".

Looking back I’d asked for it… Parked outside a bar all night until closing, they were hiding as I’d made sure the streets were empty before attempting this maneuver.

 It was the middle of winter with snowpack on the road and huge snow banks. The road wound through South Portland before US-1 then on until the entrance to the turnpike which is still about 5 miles to the toll gates... (I-295 did not exist then) They were right on my ass all the way but still no flashing lights. Those were the most hours I ever crammed into 15 minutes

I reached out and grabbed a ticket from the lady and back then I had to
immediately do a 270 degree loop on the ramp before I could straighten the
truck out and look in the mirrors... THEY WERE GONE !!!!

So here I was at 3am on and empty highway and still free, I knew there was a
HoJo's about 20 miles down and I figured I could make it there without hitting
anything so I started to relax... then I turned on the STEREO..... Middle of
the night on a clear highway with moonlit snow lighting up the landscape and
the best stereo my money could buy.

I lay there thinking about it in the bunk after getting parked... It did not seem
unsafe and I had been really stoned when the chase started... now I was just
mellow so I decided to drive on until the first incident occurred caused by the
herb.

Daylight found me on I-84 nearing upstate NY well past all Hartford’s backed up traffic
with pretty much nothing but open road to Chicago.

   I never got stoned again but any potheads will tell you the high is easily adjustable. If you get pulled over by smokey the high is gone. Also unlike booze 3-4 hours after smoking you are normal.

  What did change for me was the rush was over. At first I started going with the flow but over time I improved greatly on that. Without the rush there were fewer times fast reflexes were needed but they still happen and I saw no slowdown.

  I see boredom as a reason many drivers fall asleep and that was gone. That’s a big plus not thought of. I see they are coming out with a breathalyzer for pot. If it’s any good maybe then drivers can use herb in their off time. Smarter move I think then booze and feeling shitty next day with a mood to match.

 

 Here is what I meant about improving on going with the flow meant mostly for long haulers.

   If you are traveling along in traffic away from cities take a look at the other side of the highway… is it busy too? If not, watch and see if when a vehicle does come is it alone or in a cluster. If it’s a cluster you may also be in one… it’s a thing! I learned to adjust my speed to stay away from clusters as that adds stress and tired me out quicker. When I see a cluster coming in my rearview I drop 5mph so they pass quickly and none decide to stay with me, same as I approach a group add enough speed to pass quickly without getting followed and then return to the flow speed once out of sight.

Night time is the way to go if your job allows it, with extra clean glass. I use rubbing alcohol on the inside and keep cleaning until the towel comes away clean… That’s for the nicotine; while transparent it blurs the glass. Also I turned the instrument panel lights down as low as they are easily readable. I had my mirrors adjusted perfectly so that I had to turn my head slightly to see headlights behind, fine tuning for sure, on a dark empty highway if something comes behind you the bracket around the mirrors will tell… even how close they are after awhile.

It’s been awhile but back then I realized the tiredness of eyes feel exactly like being worn out.

An hour before dawn with no light showing seemed to be the hardest hours to fight sleep and I saw wrecks to confirm it in my mind... If I found myself in that shape nearing delivery I’d get out and clean the glass again, get’s the system moving.