Have you ever caught yourself daydreaming behind the wheel? Maybe traffic changed around you – such as when other cars begin slowing down as they approach a construction zone – and it took you by surprise. Or maybe you got all the way to your destination and you realized that you didn’t really remember the drive at all.
Some studies claim that daydreaming is one of the most common driving distractions. It’s certainly not the only one, as many drivers are distracted by passengers, music, cellphones and much more. However, studies find that drivers often allow their minds to wander behind the wheel, especially if they’re bored or on a routine drive, and it takes their attention away from operating that vehicle safely.
Can drivers even prevent daydreaming?
One of the reasons why daydreaming is such a big issue is that it’s difficult for a driver to prevent. With something like texting and driving, the person can intentionally avoid doing so until they arrive at their destination. As long as they are conscious of the fact that driving distractions cause accidents, they can take intentional steps to stay safe – like leaving the phone in their pocket or turning it off.
But daydreaming happens without warning or intentional thought. The driver may just be having a stressful day at work, so they can’t stop thinking about an upcoming project. Many drivers are literally just bored because driving feels routine, so their minds are seeking some sort of distraction to ease the boredom.
Since drivers don’t do this intentionally, they often don’t even realize that they’re doing it until they cause an accident. Those who have been injured in these motor vehicle crashes need to know how to seek financial compensation.