Driving often offers a rare chance for solitude and the joy of playing your favorite tunes, but it’s also an activity that demands focus. Here are some behaviors we tend to only engage in while behind the wheel.
Listening to the Radio
The only place we really listen to the radio now is in a car. This is because at home we can have other devices with music on. You may find yourself flipping through channels trying to find a song you like or a station that isn’t playing an advertisement. Music options may be something to set up before you start driving.
External Distractions
We notice billboards and other distractions more when we drive. ScienceDirect tells us that digital billboards are a source of distraction for drivers and may cause crashes. While the billboard may be serving its purpose of advertising a product to you, try to keep your eyes on the road as much as possible.
Monitoring Roadside Diversions
The only time we think about diversions is when we’re driving. They can become bothersome when you find yourself stuck in traffic or having to take the long route home. Roadside diversions can often be monitored on GPS systems, helping us to stay one step ahead of what’s going on.
Addressing Vehicle Functions
It’s important to be as comfortable as possible when driving and this can mean you need to make some adjustments. Your seat might not be right, or someone may have moved your mirrors if they were in the car before you. We don’t always notice these small things until we start driving.
Daydreaming
Popular Mechanics writes, “Most of us know the sensation of suddenly snapping to attention during a long stretch of highway or getting home from a drive and not remembering parts of the trip.” However, it can be dangerous to lose concentration and it’s known to contribute to road accidents.
Operating Navigation Systems
We may need to divert our attention to readjust our navigation systems. Sometimes, it may be best to pull over and do this, especially if road conditions aren’t great. GPS systems are so handy when it comes to guiding us to our destination, but like all technology, they can sometimes malfunction.
Using Hands-Free
Everyone knows how risky it is to use a cell phone when driving, which is why most people have a hands-free device installed. This means their calls come through the car’s speakers. It’s a device we only have on when driving, as we can use our phones in a normal way when out of the car.
Interacting with Passengers
We don’t always have the pleasure of driving on our own and sometimes we need to interact with our fellow passengers. This can be kids in the back or a spouse sitting next to you. If you’re driving with children, they can become very distracting. It’s important to try to keep your attention on the road.
Managing Emotional Distress
Sometimes, a drive can be a great way to let off some steam. You can drive somewhere scenic with your favorite music playing, which helps to alleviate any bad moods. Try to stay as aware of your emotions as you can so that they don’t impair your judgment when driving.
Planning or Reviewing Itineraries
Drivers may prefer to look at trip details or itineraries while they’re on the road. This could be if they haven’t had time for it beforehand, or it may help them decide which route to take. To make this easier for a driver, they should try asking a passenger for help or using a voice-activated device.
Engaging with Car Tech
Modern vehicles are usually equipped with many different technological features, with some of them being rather confusing. Sometimes, you may interact with these features while driving and this can become distracting, especially if you don’t know how something works. You may want to try and set things up when you’ve purchased the car.
Responding to Emergencies
Traffic accidents are an emergency and often require your immediate attention, especially if you’re first on the scene. For example, the National Library of Medicine writes, “Across the world, traffic accidents cause major health problems and are of concern to health institutions; nearly 1.35 million people are killed or disabled in traffic accidents every year.”
Observing Other Drivers
You may find that you observe other drivers more when you’re driving. This is because you have higher concentration levels when you’re on the road. You may even find yourself calling drivers out if you see them make a silly mistake. Otherwise, you may become curious about what type of car they have and want a peek inside.
Listening to Audiobooks or Podcasts
If you’re heading out on a long drive, now can be a perfect time to indulge in an audiobook or podcast, especially if you don’t get time to do it at home. You might want to choose something that’s less distracting and where you won’t find your mind wandering as much, such as a non-fiction audiobook.
Adjusting Vehicle Lighting
If you find yourself in a spot of poor visibility because of the weather, you’re going to need to adjust your car lights. This usually means putting them on or making them brighter. This is only something we have to do when driving, as it’s important for our safety and the safety of other drivers.
Navigating Through Extreme Weather
Sometimes, we have no choice but to go out in bad weather and when we do, it usually involves driving. Extreme weather conditions can pose many risks. This is supported by Driven Car Guide, which writes, “Inclement weather can pose significant challenges on the road—rain, snow, sleet, and fog can create hazardous conditions, testing even the most experienced drivers.”
Looking for Street Signs
We don’t all have the luxury of GPS, and that can mean we have to pay close attention to road and street signs. These will point us in the right direction and take us to our destination. Sometimes they can cause drivers to lose attention on the road, especially if they’re looking too hard or miss a turn.
