Hypnotised Drivers
(Special Correspondent N Z P.A )
LONDON, May 15. The results of official investigations did not suggest that there was any risk in using hypnosis as an aid to driving instruction, the parliamentary secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mr Thomas Galbraith, stated in a House of Commons reply. He .had been asked whether it was thought that a novice car-driver could be made to drive better through being hypnotised. Mr Galbraith said the Ministry was watching the situation and would consider some form of control if it became desirable in the interests of road safety.
“So far as I can ascertain, there has been virtually no research carried out into the possible effects of hypnosis on driving behaviour. “With this qualification it seems that provided suitable hypnosis was properly given, it is reasonable to claim that posthypnotic suggestion would reduce ’test nerves’ and so enable the subject to perform better than he otherwise would. “But whether this necessarily constitutes a risk to road safety by virtue of what may be called an artificial pass in the test, is doubtful,” said Mr Galbraith.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 13
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182Hypnotised Drivers Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 13
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