If you see a teen driver texting on their phone while they drive to school in the morning, it’s fairly obvious that they are distracted. If you see a parent turning around to hand snacks or drinks to their children, while simultaneously driving down the interstate at 70 miles an hour, it’s another clear example of distraction. Both of these drivers are very dangerous and could cause an accident in a split second.
That being said, it is important to remember that not all distractions are this obvious. There is one invisible distraction that may be more common than any other: Daydreaming behind the wheel. Some studies have found that a “wandering mind” is reported more often than any other type of distraction that drivers face.
2 problems with daydreaming
The first issue with daydreaming is that the driver doesn’t actually control whether they’re doing it or not. Yes, they may eventually realize they are daydreaming and refocus on the road, but they never make an intentional decision to start daydreaming. This makes it very different than something a driver does on purpose, like picking up their cellphone. Distractions can happen when the driver doesn’t even realize it.
The second issue is that daydreaming can create a distraction for a significant amount of time. Someone who is texting and driving is dangerous and distracted, but that may only last for a few seconds or a few minutes. A driver who is daydreaming may find their mind wandering through their entire drive, and they barely remember the trip.
Distracted drivers cause serious car accidents every day. Those who have suffered injuries need to know how to seek financial compensation.