If asked to list out the main causes of car accidents, what would you note first? Drunk driving? Texting and driving? Speeding?
These activities all do connect to car accident statistics, and it’s good that you’re mindful of them. However, there are other reasons that are silently flying under the radar and causing a lot of crashes. Many people have no idea they are even an issue at all. They are:
- Boredom
- Inattention
- Mindlessness
Put another way, one study that looked at deadly crashes noted that a massive 61% of accidents that were connected to distracted driving actually just meant that the driver was “lost in thought.” They were daydreaming. They were thinking about something else and letting their mind wander.
Driving can get boring. People do the same daily commute thousands of times. That can’t hold their attention for long. They have busy lives. They start thinking about all sorts of other things: what they need to do at work, what they want to have for dinner, what they recently talked about with their significant other, how long until their next vacation.
It’s hard to control this. You can be a very safe driver in all other regards and still have your mind wander behind the wheel, especially when you’re already bored. It’s a natural reaction. Your mind is trying to seek something to hold its attention, and driving doesn’t do it.
Unfortunately, drivers who do not pay attention to driving and driving alone often cause serious car accidents. Those who get hurt may need to seek financial compensation for their injuries.
