Does Your Mind Wander While You Drive? Daydreaming Could Cause California Car Accidents & Injuries

Distracted driving often conjures up images of using a cell phone or eating a hamburger while driving. However, researchers have recently completed a study which shows that distracted driving can be subtler than when you take your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road.

A new study, published in the journal BMJ and conducted by French researchers, has found that mind-wandering and daydreaming can affect up to half of all traffic accidents—and that the more your mind wanders away from the task of driving, the more likely you are to be injured in a car accident.

Daydreaming Distracted Driving Study

The study interviewed 1,000 adult drivers who were injured in accidents and were taken to the hospital for treatment between 2010 and 2011. Researchers found through interviews that about 47 percent of the drivers were responsible for the accident, and that 52 percent of the drivers admitted their mind had drifted from the road before the crash. Seventeen percent of drivers who were at fault reported being very distracted by thoughts while driving, while only nine percent of those who were not at fault for their accidents said they were very distracted.

Keeping Your Mind on the Road

Traffic safety advocates in the United States said that the study is interesting, but it is no surprise. Distracted driving takes on number of forms, from texting behind the wheel, to changing the radio station, to grooming while driving. The special danger of distracted driving related to wandering minds and day dreaming is that there is no way to cite drivers who aren’t focused on the road—and there’s no good way to determine when someone is distracted by his or her thoughts.

Newport Beach Car Accident Attorney 

The cause of your California car accident and injury may not be readily apparent, and you may need help determining who legally was at fault. At Russell & Lazarus, we can look at the evidence surrounding your personal injury case and help determine whether you deserve compensation. Call our knowledgeable, experienced attorneys today to schedule a free case evaluation: (949) 851-0222.