Do you ever feel like your mind wanders a bit too often? It’s a common issue. What we’re learning is that it’s also very risky, especially for those in the car.
How much do we do it? The answer may surprise you. One study, carried out at Harvard, determined that people daydream roughly 47% of the time. That means half of the time that you’re awake, you’re thinking about something other than what is happening around you.
Daydreaming itself can be both good and bad. Some researchers argue that it helps people achieve their goals, so it’s a good thing. Others note that it can be linked to depression, especially when someone is daydreaming because they’re unhappy with their reality. Returning to that reality can be depressing.
No matter how it makes you feel, though, doing it in the car is always risky. It’s a cognitive distraction. It has been linked to car accidents. Just like any other distraction, such as going on your phone or talking to your passengers, it can cause you to stop thinking about driving. With a task as complex as driving, any time with your mind wandering increases the odds of a wreck. If you’re doing it to escape an unpleasant reality, you could cause a crash that makes that reality far less pleasant than it was before.
Now you know how often daydreaming happens and the risks that it poses. That’s a good thing, but what if another driver gets lost in thought and hits you? That’s when you need to know your legal rights to compensation.
Contact an Easton distracted driving accident lawyer to learn more.
