title: Driving with the wandering mind: the effect that mind-wandering has on driving performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The principal objective of the present work was to examine the effects of mind state (mind-wandering vs. on-task) on driving performance in a high-fidelity driving simulator.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Mind-wandering is thought to interfere with goal-directed thought. It is likely, then, that when driving, mind-wandering might lead to impairments in critical aspects of driving performance. In two experiments, we assess the extent to which mind-wandering interferes with responsiveness to sudden events, mean velocity, and headway distance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a car-following procedure in a high-fidelity driving simulator, participants were probed at random times to indicate whether they were on-task at that moment or mind-wandering. The dependent measures were analyzed based on the participant's response to the probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to when on-task, when mind-wandering participants showed longer response times to sudden events, drove at a higher velocity, and maintained a shorter headway distance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, these findings indicate that mind-wandering affects a broad range of driving responses and may therefore lead to higher crash risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that situations that are likely associated with mind-wandering (e.g., route familiarity) can impair driving performance.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Yanko
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Spalek
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult