Is there a name for driving while in deep thought and arriving at your destinati

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   Faith Reaperposted 9 years ago

   Is there a name for driving while in deep thought and arriving at your destination safe?
   
   I am not sure if it is some sort of phenomenon to drive while in deep thought for a long distance and arrive at your destination safe and sound, but have no memory of the trip.  In other words, you drive just fine but do not remember the drive, but you are where you intended to go.  Is there a name for this, other than ...dangerous or thank God you're still alive?  It seems to me that I remember there is a name for such phenomenon.  Thank you for answering
   
   

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   tsmogposted 9 years ago

   I don't know of an official name. Maybe worth researching as most likely psychology has investigated that. Could we say it  is like being 'In the Zone' when your sense of awareness and sense of being awake are in tune while being mindful too? I dun'no if that makes sense or not.
   
   I can remember playing slow pitch softball games, running the half mile in high school, and even at work doing a project with Excel creating formulas of length and not remember how I got there. With the later I would once the formula was done and did work, then I would have to read it to discover what I did do. With the softball game at times every pitch I tossed seemed to be a part of me instead of me tossing the ball. With running track I felt like I was the environment surrounding me instead of a different part of it. I just ran . . . not noticing anything other than I was moving forward toward a destination.
   
   hmmmm . . . most certainly I will ponder this question more as the night passes. I wonder if I will experience what you are inquiring of, yet it be with simply pondering while doing many other things next. Interesting . . .

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Tim, yes, in the Zone is a good way to describe it.  Fully functional but deep in thought that one doesn't remember the usual scenic stops, etc. Yes, it can happen while we are doing anything, like housework : ) maybe that is how we get through it

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years ago

   It could be a mental blackout, loss of awareness - yet, somehow arrived safely, maybe with the help of a Guardian Angel.  I believe the medical term is syncope.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, Phyllis, blackout sounds very dangerous and don't know how one would survive a long distance in a blackout state.  I know I do have my guardian angels. Thanks for the "syncope"...interesting!

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      Alastar Packerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      In 'Guardian Angels & Little Devils' 'cause of length I had to excise a story where a friend drove for 15 minutes in a big city after going blank. Syncope would not have been a factor. She did feel deep down some kind of protection through it all

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I believe, in my case, it could also be called a brain fart - A brief episode of absent-mindedness or inattention.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Phyllis, no blackout going on, just deep in thought, and not thinking of all the usual sights along the way. I sing, pray, listen to music like everyone else, and drive, so in deep thought but not acknowledging every sight along the way.

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   B. Leekleyposted 9 years ago

   I think the term is zoned out or spaced out.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Brian, yes, that is what we called it back in the day, but what if we are not really "spaced out" just in deep thought about something but still driving well?

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      B. Leekleyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I asked Google about your question and found a hub titled "Drowsy Daydreaming Drivers - Zombies on the Road".

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Brian.  I am not drowsy though just in deep thought.

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   word55posted 9 years ago

   I think your subconscious takes over and guides you safely and properly while you're in deep thought. It's okay, no big deal. Lots of people do that. They wake up and say, "wow, I'm here already." I think it's a good thing. I'd hate to think that you were zoned out or not aware of where you were going or how you were driving.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Word, yes, one still drives in a safe manner and most likely as you state, our subconscious takes over, but just wonder if it is some kind of phenomenon to arrive safe and sound while going through the motions ...

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   Romeos Quillposted 9 years ago

   Hi Faith;
   
   Could the person driving to aforesaid destination be experiencing what is known as an ' Event Boundary ' or ' Event Segmentation ' ?
   
   The ' Event Segmentation Theory ' entails the assertion that one can experience an update deficit of either memory retrieved, its transformation or substitution, keeping what is perceived as ' irrelevant information ' out of your memory codes.The theory proposes that your lifetime is one long event ( like a film ), broken into many episodes and similarly, our mind breaks these continuous events into segments. This article link will further explain: videlict;-
   
   http://www.mempowered.com/strategies/ev … y-capacity
   
   However, if, unfortunately Phyllis is correct, then you really should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis to be on the safe side as there are so many factors to take into consideration, i.e. have you, or do you presently suffer bouts of epileptic seizures etc...
   
   Here is a short segment and footnote I found on a syncope website:-
   
   Physical injury; soft tissue and bone injuries may occur. Syncope was found to be the cause of 21% (second highest behind epilepsy) of road accidents involving loss of consciousness at the wheel.[13].
   
   [13] Brignole M, Alboni P, Benditt DG, et al; Guidelines on management (diagnosis and treatment) of syncope--update 2004. Europace. 2004 Nov;6(6):467-537.
   
   Mind how you go and hope you'll find a solution soon.
   Regards;
   R.Q.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hahaha, oh me, that is a lot to digest, but thank you.  It is more like just thinking about the day and in our normal routine, no need to be mindful of our usual landmarks and such. We all sing, laugh, talk to passengers, pray while driving and think

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      No need for a solution, dearest Romeos, as it is just being in deep thought while safely driving our familiar route to and fro. LOL, yes, you may have overthought this one.  God bless

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 9 years ago

   I actually think you can drive quite safely in that state. You still respond to traffic conditions, stop at red lights and such. I have experienced that, but I didn't really have a total lack of memory of the trip, like a black out, just that the memory was vague. I do some of my best thinking in the car.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Sherry, yes, I think so too, and no, it wasn't a black out, just driving as usual thinking a lot. Shoot, I listen to music, pray, sing while driving, so just not preoccupied with the sites.  Thank you for answering!

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   Bob Bambergposted 9 years ago

   I don't know what the term is, Faith, but I found it comforting to learn years ago that a lot of people also do it.  I spend a lot of time on the road, not necessarily particularly deep in thought, and will be surprised to arrive at my destination, or even pass a landmark, without remembering having passed other landmarks. 
   
   I notice the same phenomenon when on a hands-free phone call, and I try to pay particularly close attention, knowing the dangers of distracted driving.  But, it seems that you don't have to be engaged in a phone call to drive distracted.   
   
   I usually make a mental acknowledgement of landmarks, so on the occasions when I don't, I'm surprised at arriving without remembering passing them.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that is it exactly, passing a landmark without remembering having passed it.  Oh, I don't talk on the cell phone while driving. I pull over!  Thanks Bob!

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      Bob Bambergposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I've got Blue Tooth, Faith, so I talk on the phone hands-free.  It's not unlike talking to a passenger.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, really, Bob.  Thanks for sharing.  I may need to get one of those : )

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   bravewarriorposted 9 years ago

   I call it automatic pilot. I'd love to hear if there is a clinical term for it.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that sounds like it , Sha, auto pilot. I have heard of a clinical term for it, but just can't remember what it is. Of course, we can all sing, pray, listen to music and drive just fine, but with this, we just don't happen to remember landmarks.

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    The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

    Usually you are by yourself and you have been someplace before. Then it is called "autopilot" because you know where you are coming from and going to.
    There is nobody with you so you can go into deep thought without anyone waking you up - unless your cell phone rings. Then again it depends how deep of a thinker you are. lol

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       Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Kevin, yes, that describes it exactly LOL.  The route is so familiar that you are on autopilot and just not aware of passing our usual landmarks.  I am a deep thinker LOL.

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    RoadMonkeyposted 9 years ago

    It's called automatic driving and it's quite common. It's the reason that you forget to call in somewhere if you need to make a different call to somewhere when you are on your regular route somewhere. Something different happening brings you out of the automatic state to react in real time to an unexpected event.

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       Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Hi RoadMonkey, that is it, automatic driving or autopilot.  We just go through our normal routine and route until something is different in that route.  Thank you for answering!

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    Sparkleaposted 9 years ago

    HI Faith; Just getting online for a few minutes, so I have not read the other responses, but I will never forget what my former supervisor said to me years ago about what you mention above:
    He said to me something like, 'when you are driving and you reach your destination but have no memory of it, THAT is a description of hypnotism.  You have been hypnotized."  My supervisor is a doctor, and very, very smart.  With all the things I forget that people say, I have always remembered his statement.
    What you describe to me happens to me a lot.  All of a sudden I am where I was headed with NO memory of the journey!  Most of the time this happens when I am alone.  If I have a passenger, not so much. 
    All this being said, I have never been to a hypnotist nor have I been hypnotized.  BUT thinking about it, most people who are hypnotized on stage and made to act like an animal or do silly antics, then see it back on film have NO knowledge of it!
    To think that maybe I have been under the spell of hypnotism when this happens, just proves to me this is definitely a spiritual world.  Regardless of why it happens, I feel in my heart that God is in it, because He is so very powerful.  Maybe He is giving a certain part of my consciousness a rest?
    I don't know, but that is just one of the things on my long lists of eternal mysteries which I will address to my Lord and Savior when I meet him in eternity.
    Thank you for this great question!  Blessings, Sparklea

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       Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Wow, Sparklea, that is all so interesting! I have never been hypnotized either. That sounds nice to give part of our consciousness a rest ...a well-needed rest. Thank you for sharing here. I will do so too sweet friend.  Hugs

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