When people talk about drivers getting distracted, they typically mean a driver doing something. For instance, the driver is eating a burger, which ties up their hands, making it a physical distraction. Or they are chatting to a passenger which causes cognitive distraction, and perhaps turning to look at them as they speak, which is a visual distraction.
Yet you don’t need to be doing something to be distracted.
Have you ever been driving along and got lost in thought? If so, then you have been cognitively distracted. Daydreaming, letting the mind wander, setting your mind free to roam or whatever you want to call it is unsafe when driving.
To drive safely, you must stay alert and focused on the road. That is the best way to notice upcoming hazards, take in what others around you are doing and navigate safely to your destination.
Most people daydream at some point
Think back to your school days. The teachers probably spent considerable time telling certain children to “wake up,” or “pay attention.” They might have told them to “snap out of it” or to “stop daydreaming.”
Some people are more prone to daydreaming than others, so if you were one of those kids then it’s worth paying special attention to ensure you are not guilty of it when you drive. But most people get lost in thought at some point, and it frequently occurs in the car. There is something about the constant motion and the lines of the road whizzing beneath you that can cause people’s minds to wander.
If there is no clear reason for why someone crashed into you – if they were not drunk, speeding or on their phone – it may just be they were lost in thought. While it can happen to anyone, all drivers have a responsibility to stay focused and they should expect anyone they injure because they weren’t to claim compensation.
