A recent study shows that the majority of drivers reported mind wandering while driving. However, the researchers point out that this inattentiveness – coupled with external distractions such as phones and mobile devices -- is a major factor in many accidents.
“Driver inattention is a frequent cause of automobile crashes and fatalities. This issue has received considerable attention from the scientific community in recent years,” the researchers said. “Methods of detecting episodes of driver inattention in real-time hold promise for alleviating the human and economic costs of this safety critical issue.”
Drifting off while driving
To test how pervasive mind wandering was among drivers, the researchers set up a driving simulation and monitored participants’ brain patterns to see when their attention drifted off. Drivers completed two 20-minute driving sessions over five consecutive days that simulated conditions on a straight highway at a constant speed to mimic a daily commute to work.
The results showed that mind wandering was prevalent among all drivers, although they were only aware of it around 65% of the time, on average. And, as expected, this lowered state of awareness put them in danger when it came to perceiving the world around them.
“We found that during simulated driving, people’s minds wander a lot – some upwards of 70% of the time,” said researcher Carryl Baldwin from George Mason University. “We were able to detect periods of mind wandering through distinctive electrophysiological brain patterns, some of which indicated that the drivers were likely less receptive to external stimuli.”
Technology could be the answer
So, is there any way to stop our minds from wandering when we’re behind the wheel? While the researchers say further studies are needed to find out just how dangerous this inattention can be while driving, they say that technology might be the key.
"In terms of improving safety in the future, one option could be autonomous transport systems, like self-driving cars, that allow people's minds to wander when it is safe to do so, but re-engage when they need to pay attention," said Baldwin.
The full study has been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.