Daydreaming while driving is an example of which type of distraction?

Daydreaming while driving is an example of which type of distraction?

A. visual

B. Auditory

C. Biomechanical/Manual

D. Cognitive

Answer: D. Cognitive

Cognitive distraction includes such activities as driving while daydreaming. Cognitive distractions relate to a driver’s preoccupation with other activities and/or objects even though his or her eyes are on the wheel and hands on the steering wheel. This type of distraction takes the focus of the mind off the intricate tasks involved in driving as one is required to, for instance, turn around and look at something that caused the buzzing sensation.

When a driver’s concentration is off task, he or she lets the mind go and drifts off thinking about matters unrelated to road safety such as problems at home, at the office, or in their mind creates Images of a preferred situation. For instance, a driver could be physically in the car following the traffic rules and regulations, while his or her mind wanders off thinking, about an upcoming vacation or an argument that he or she had with a loved one in the morning. Such a kind of psychological disconnection can greatly jeopardize a driver’s capacity to grasp and act according to data he or she receives from the environment. They might not even see things that are very obvious to other people like a child crossing the street or they might not see changes in the traffic pattern or signs. Cognitive distractions also affect reaction time as the driver has to shift attention from the daydream back to the driving task if there is a sudden event. Cognitive distraction is far more complex than visual or manual distraction since it is notably difficult to detect and regulate. They can be just as deadly, however, because they limit a driver’s ability to initially assess and then make decisions about what is happening on the road. It is for this reason that daydreaming is described as a cognitive distraction, therefore, any inclination that diverts one’s attention from the task of operating a vehicle is dangerous to the traffic laws.