Daydreaming While Driving, How Dangerous Is It?

It's extremely dangerous. My subsconscious is luckily a better driver than me as I often 'woke up' in the driveway being totally unable to remember even getting in the car at work, let alone navigating the 40 minutes of Parramatta Rd traffic! It was terrifying! I'd remember what I was daydreaming about but not about the trip.

If I get 'dozy' I pull over and shut down for a 5 minute nap and I'm right as rain, but I never ignore those warnings. When I start to 'wander' beyond which shop to pull up at first I know I'm going to be a zombie at the wheel whether my eyes are open or not.
 

I never relax enough when I'm behind the wheel to doze off, but there were times I blew by my exit on the highway, because I was obviously thinking of something else.
 
Saw a "Man on the Street" bit once where they were asking people what they thought about while driving. Not one of those clowns said, "I think about driving." I'm pretty sure they don't know the name of the president, either . . .

There's a telephone pole on a very tight hairpin turn down the road with a sign that says, "Pole 14; Car 1". Paying attention is a good idea...
 
Interesting that the article suggests playing "What If" while you're driving - I've used that exact same exercise with self-defense students for the same reasons - to explore various new options, stay alert and reprogram the brain into a self-preservation mode.

I remember when I broke up with a college girlfriend in NYC in 1977. I was so enraged that I drove straight through without stopping to my "sanctuary", Key West, a drive that took a hair over 21 hours. I had no problem driving down because I was fueled by my adrenaline dump.

After 2 weeks of sunshine and partying I was sufficiently restored in mind and body to return to NY. This time the trip took 25 hours with a few pit stops, but I noticed I was falling asleep on the long, straight stretches and more than once awoke to find my passenger-side tires kicking up gravel. It was only my guardian angels that kept me from flying off the road that time and I learned my lesson after that.
 
PHIL, I can totally understand your escaping to Key West....love that place!

As for the topic, it's scary enough on the road worrying about drunken drivers, those texting & phoning, and now we have to worry about drivers with wandering minds....or those driving 21 - 25 hours with no sleep. (wink!)
 
1926908.jpg
 
I use to see women putting on their makeup while driving on my way to work....I stayed clear of them...you not only have to watch where you're going but the other drivers as well...makeup and cell phones.
 
Anne said:
You took that pic while driving, That Guy??? ;)
Click to expand...

The tough part was running alongside her vehicle at 60MPH ...

Yeah, I've seen the make-up putting-on, the reading of the newspaper, having breakfast, shaving, you name it. Won't even get into the Over 60 Club stuff ...
 
Watch it! What's wrong with the elderly driver in a Volvo wearing a hat? And what do you know it alls call elderly?:(
 
Diwundrin said:
'meant elderly drivers, not elderly Volvos. Oh,.... sorry if you were already elderly in 1979. :cool:
Click to expand...

*in petulant voice*

I KNOW that!

:playful:

It's just that I've been called "an old soul" many times, especially in my younger years. I was always the one thinking deep thoughts about ... well, deep things. Even though I was a wild child I was simultaneously the one who was always counted on to get everyone else out of trouble, or to talk someone down from a rage or bring them up from a depression. In the case of driving I only drove like a madman when I was sure I was absolutely alone on a long stretch of empty highway, where the only person I could kill with my stupidity was myself. I always had people blowing their horns behind me because I was being too careful when I drove.

I was born old.

old-baby.jpg
 
SifuPhil said:
*in petulant voice*

I KNOW that!

:playful:

It's just that I've been called "an old soul" many times, especially in my younger years. I was always the one thinking deep thoughts about ... well, deep things. Even though I was a wild child I was simultaneously the one who was always counted on to get everyone else out of trouble, or to talk someone down from a rage or bring them up from a depression. In the case of driving I only drove like a madman when I was sure I was absolutely alone on a long stretch of empty highway, where the only person I could kill with my stupidity was myself. I always had people blowing their horns behind me because I was being too careful when I drove.

I was born old..............
Click to expand...

Think I must have been too, only child in a house full of adults. I thought all the other kids were retards.
They hated me when I started school 'cos I used to talk to them the way Mum spoke to me and they really didn't want another 'mother' bossing them around. Reckon that could account for why I've always been a loner.

Can't say I was a careful driver though, I got a buzz out of 'playing' in the traffic. I was playin' those car chase video games for real before computers were invented. Baaad girl. The traffic was never fast enough to kill anyone anyway so not as excitin' as it sounds.

I was heavy footed on country roads though, I survived that habit by driving under powered cars. I'd've been history young in anything with horsepower.

btw. Cute baby pic. :rofl:
 
basefare said:
Watch it! What's wrong with the elderly driver in a Volvo wearing a hat? And what do you know it alls call elderly?:(
Click to expand...

Onya Basefare! You stand up for yourself. :eek:ld: Us kids got a damned hide sometimes.

Sorry, missed this post earlier, it was a standing joke around here. I made some referrence to it in the course of conversation about the traffic to a visitor once before I realised that he'd arrived in a brand new Volvo that he was busting to brag about. It sure killed the conversation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top