Don't worry. I'm have control.

@p1kef1sh (45681)
April 18, 2008 3:10pm CST
I drove down fro may parents house today, about 65 miles. Not too far. The journey was all across country and a road that I know very well. After about 40 miles or so I realised that I had driven that far on complete auto pilot. My mind was elsewhere and I was in La La Land. The daydream was lovely, but it's a bit frightening that I could drive so far and have little recollection of the road. Do you daydream whilst driving?
12 people like this
27 responses
• United States
18 Apr 08
Afternoon Pike, oh yes I do this all of the time, especially on the drive to Chattanooga, which is nothing by straight country two lane. I suppose you were daydreaming of wearing that bra, and how exciting it is going to be to share with your friends and all of your girls here... I know there are many that are probably day dreaming as we speak here of this very thing.....
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 08
LMAO Pikey, there really is a Chattanooga, and a Chattanooga Choo-Choo :))))
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
20 Apr 08
There have been times where I have driven on auto pilot home from work and it scared the crap out of me not realizing that I had made the trip.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
21 Apr 08
It's a frightening thought isn't it. You ca drive miles in what appears to be safety, and then realise that you cannot remember a thing about it. Then you go and do it all over again!
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
18 Apr 08
Oh I do this when I go to my parents all the time. Its a little scary when you cant remeber if you actually saw the green light.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
Thankfully there are no lights the whole way. But there are plenty of narrow lanes. I vaguely recollect an ambulance at one point. Perhaps it was waiting for me!!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Apr 08
Daydreaming while driving doesn't really happen often with me. If it does happen, it usually only occurs when I'm by myself and it only lasts several seconds and then I'm like woah, wait a minute I'm driving here, not sitting at home, it's time to pay attention. And then I'm fine until I get home.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
That's how it should be. Drifting off is fine when you are not driving, but when you are.........Scary.
• United States
19 Apr 08
Yeah I do that alot. In fact I seem to be doing this more and more often recently. I am a member of the fire department and many times when we get a call in the middle of the night I don't remember the drive to the firehouse. All I know is I woke up and in no time at all I ended up at my gearben throwning on my helmet. It is kind of scary to think that you have no idea how you got from point A to point B. I have never actually fallen asleep at the wheel, but sometimes I wonder if zonming out is any better. In some ways it may be even worse.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
You are not the fire truck driver are you? That could be embarrassing. LOL. But it is weird how you can be miles away, yet driving at 50/60/70 and have no idea what you are doing. Like being on auto pilot.
1 person likes this
@goergineo (1498)
• Jordan
18 Apr 08
yeah, sometimes i do it but try to avoid it so that i only concentrate on diving specially when someone is with me in the car. drive safe and good luck
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
Thank you. Scary when it does happen though.
@dorypanda (1601)
19 Apr 08
I never daydream while I'm driving, only during EVERY other thing I'm doing. I'm sort of in a daydream even while I'm typing this. ;)
@dorypanda (1601)
19 Apr 08
Errrm........maybe it's.......your...........age? ;p
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
That's the way that it should be. Daydreaming when driving is very worrying. I cannot believe that I went 40 miles and have virtually no recollection of them because my mind was on another planet.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
LOL. Who am I again? I must ask Matron.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
20 Apr 08
Hi p1 I don't know about being in a Daydream I think if you know the route so well you just drive and before you know it you are there I do that when I go from here up North to see my Children(Adults) It is Auto Pilot but I always say the Car knows its own way lol
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
21 Apr 08
Well that was a nice Daydream I have to admit but please be careful next time lol
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Apr 08
I know exactly what you mean. I just worry that I can't remember any of it!! I was definitely in a daydream though. Lovely one too. All about how fortunate I am with my family and friends.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
18 Apr 08
I do not drive, but I do daydream a lot and I would think that this is a very normal think to do while you are drinking. Your mind does not need to be totally alert when you are performing a task that you do on a regular basis.
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
19 Apr 08
I understand what you are saying and God forbid. But your eyes are still on the road and unless your mind is naturally slow, it will react in time. You rarely ever here of anyone getting into an accident from daydreaming alone. They are usually doing something to distract their eyes also.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
Maybe it does not need to be fully alert, but surely it should be. Imagine if through my lack of concentration I had hit a child? I shudder to think.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 08
I dont drive often but when i do i watch everything b/c i dont drive enough to be that comfertable, when i did drive all the time there was times that i would lose track of time and day dream. There was this one lady my mom was friends with that could put on her makeup and drive (she was blonde, lol) one time she ran someone off the road b/c of it and she looks back and says, "did i do that" it thought it was so funny
@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
I would hate to run someone off the road whilst I was in La La Land. But I may have done today and I would have no recollection of it. and I'm not blonde!!
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Apr 08
well you were just in la la land, theres a differance in driving and putting on makeup and driving in la la land, you still will have a chance to see something happen in la la land, but when shes putting on mascara she cant see whats going on at all. LOL i cant even put makeup on in the passenger seat of the car
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I daydream alot but if I'm driving I usually snap out of it pretty quick. I guess this is a good thing because the last thing I need is to wreck my car. :(
• United States
20 Apr 08
That would be an interesting test provided you can do it safely! :)
@p1kef1sh (45681)
20 Apr 08
Oh no don't wreck the car. I worry how far I can drive without being there in mind!
@ellie333 (21016)
18 Apr 08
Hi, I drove four today doing much the same. Some journeys I do that often that yes it seems like you have put auto-pilot on like you say. I think you are obviously still aware of the road and all the other vehicles and hazards along the way but you just tend to go into thought mode. I either think or sing along to music depending on my mood really. Glad you you had a good journey and hope the daydreams were pleasant ones. Ellie :D
@ellie333 (21016)
18 Apr 08
Could be that now you're at the big 50 your memory not so good (joking!) and my excuse is cos I'm female we always forget things including journeys I'm pleased we both had safe journeys too. Ellie :D
@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
Er sorry. Journey, what journey....?
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
18 Apr 08
I am glad that we both had safe journeys Ellie. It is a must peculiar feeling though. You know that you did drive, but just don't remember how!
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@GreenMoo (11833)
24 Apr 08
You're not alone there. What's worse that being on auto pilot is being on autopilot to the wrong place. I used to do it all the time when I had to use the motorway to get to work. When ever I was heading somewhere else I'd discover myself on that blasted motorway, going in the wrong direction. And you know how long it can be until you reach an exit when you're in a hurry to get off .... For some reason, having music on when I'm driving keeps me alert. I think it's because it occupies a part of my brain, so the whole lot can't slink off somewhere & daydream.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
5 Oct 08
I hate to have the radio on in the car - although I have done it. My wife is quite reverse and it is the cause of some conflict between us. LOL. I do frighten myself sometimes by just "being" at my destination. How I got there I don't have a scooby!!
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@GreenMoo (11833)
7 Oct 08
It does sound rather odd but I'm convinced that I'm a safer driver when I have a radio playing. It occupies a small part of my brain, just sufficient that it can't sink off into a deep daydream about something. The trouble starts when too much of my brain gets occupied with it's own thing you see. The daydreaming part starts to sneak bits of brain from the part which should be concentrating on driving, and before I realise it I'm away with the fairies.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
7 Oct 08
There may be something in that. However, unless it is Woman's Hour (to which I am addicted) everything else is simply annoying. Maybe it's a gender thing. Women are reputed to be able to do several things at once. Perhaps drive and listen to the radio is one of them! Shall I duck now?
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@ruby222 (4847)
21 Apr 08
I dont drive so that rules me out on that one.But LA LA land im often there dear Piky. Recently we went to visit our daughter..and I thought that seeing as she wasnt well...I would take our little grandson out in his pushchair...now Im not in charge of a pushchair very often...but I tell you my stress levels were shooting through the roof...pushchair,toddler,shopping,...Oh dear..... As you know I lived in that little town for years...and then the worst happened...I slipped into LA LA land and lost my way!!!!!...well I was so taken aback....having walked those sreets for years...yet there I was lost!!!...It took a good while to regain my composure....and I smiled and passed the time of day with those who walked by me...but lol ive never felt so silly in my life.... So no you are by no means the only one ....
@p1kef1sh (45681)
21 Apr 08
That reminds me of my mother in law taking my daughter for a walk in her push chair. We were all up at Tamworth Castle. Off went MIL and daughter whilst we enjoyed the child less freedom. Suddenly there came a shout for help. My MIL had walked off the path (she was in her own World) and the push chair had collapsed on itself. Daughter was hanging upside down giggling. MIL was standing there ciggy in hand looking very stressed. We all stood about and laughed before extricating daughter.
@GreenMoo (11833)
7 Oct 08
This story just goes to prove my theory that one should be supplied with training before being allowed out with baby equipment. My latest pushchair requires a degree in astrophysics to put it up or down. It's easier to lift the whole thing up & lob it in the back of the van than it is to try and collapse it ...
@ruby222 (4847)
21 Apr 08
You have to laugh or you would cry!!!!!....a concertina`d daughter!!! Well im telling you now...if I had had my little packet of ciggies....I certainly should have lit up...being overcome with stress!!!
19 Apr 08
I have to admit, hun, I do tend to go onto auto pilot sometimes. If I am on a long drive, often from Birmingham to London along the M40, then I will frequently find myself trundling along and suddenly realise that I am close to the M25 junction. I do have music playing in the car when I am driving and that sometimes tends to send me off into my own world, hopefully not to a dangerous extent, but it's easily done.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
I know that route very well. Dullsville most of it. At least until you get to Beaconsfield when you can start thinking whether to take the M25 or go into London. I was there just last week. That is definitely a route that I switch off on too. Happens all too easily.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
23 Sep 08
Yes. I have done the same thing because I always have alot of things on my mind all of the time. It is very scary to drive like that but it happens. We are lucky not to have a wreck or something.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
5 Oct 08
That's how I think too Steph. Quite frightening.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
19 Apr 08
did you forget i am blonde? you have no idea. Much depends on the music i am listening to...maybe too much as i tend to get lost in it. Some who have witnessed my driving will swear i have a lead foot...that'd be the rock cd. Then again, I have been driving along and suddenly looked in my rearview and low and behold, I feel like santa driving a sleigh of reindeer...traffic is so far back! not good . not good.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
You sound like a glamorous, female version of my Dad. He drives like that. LOL
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
19 Apr 08
i am always daydreaming when i drive,usually on short trips i am argueing with the kids ,so thats not so bad,but long trips i am definatetly in la la land,and i am dissappointed that i have arrived to my destination and my boring humdrum life.la la land was much better.cheers sue
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Apr 08
La La Land is what you want it to be of course. Reality is what it is too. I know which I prefer when I am driving.
• United States
23 Apr 08
I have driven a 212 miles stretch from Maryland to Pennsylvania on auto pilot before. More than once actually. I would set out for the trip every two weeks to exchange my daughter with her father for his custody period and I would arrive in my grandmothers driveway about 3 hours later wondering how on earth I had gotten there already. It always frightened me too but I just told myself that I obviously was concentrating so hard on the road and the traffic that that was why I couldn't remember the trip.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
23 Apr 08
I shall use that as a justification next time that it happens to me. I can remember every detail of my day dream. But virtually nothing about the drive. Except for an ambulance. Perhaps that was a message to me.
@MAMABLAZE (242)
• United States
20 Apr 08
Yes I have done so many a time and although I am paying attention to what the other drivers are doing etc. it freaks me out. My mind is just on it's own track trying to deal with the daily stresses I must deal with and I find myself driving while thinking about anything but. I tell myself to concentrate on the road and before you know it I'm doing it again. At least I know I'm not the only one who does it right?...Mamablaze!!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
21 Apr 08
You are not alone Mamablaze. There's 30 odd people here that do it too! Perhaps we get so confident of our route, our ability to drive etc that we are lulled into a sense of security. Who knows?