In what might come as a surprise to some residents of the Orange County area, the leading cause of fatal car accidents that are related to distracted driving is not the misuse of mobile devices behind the wheel, although this certainly ranks high on the list of deadly distractions. Instead, a driver allowing his or her mind wander from the task at hand, via daydreaming or drifting off, is the leading cause of fatal accidents related to distracted driving. A recent report suggested that 61 percent of such accidents were attributed to daydreaming, whereas only 14 percent were attributed to cell phone use, like texting and driving.
The problem with daydreaming is that a person can engage in it without even really thinking about it. As opposed to someone who reaches for his or her cell phone or other mobile device, someone who is daydreaming may not even realize that they no longer pay attention to the road until it is too late.
Still, it can be helpful for a person to remember, before getting behind the wheel, which is not a good time to relax and let one’s mind unwind, as tempting of a thought as that may be. A distracted driver is still a distracted driver, even if he or she was distracted only by his or her own thoughts or imagination.
It is the obligation of California motorists to give full physical and mental attention to their driving, as not doing so, even for a few seconds, can be a deadly mistake. When a driver does not live up to this obligation and causes a serious or deadly accident, they may be held financially liable for the damages they cause.