Probably more common than you think. I know someone who worked in the transport industry. They had one advice they gave everyone: “when you’re driving while tired or stressed, hyperfocus on the two lines on the road in front of you. NEVER look at any tree or pole on the side of the road.”
We automatically steer where our eyes are looking at. If you are awake and focused, that doesn’t matter cause you adjust for that subconsciously. But if you are preoccupied with something and are driving on autopilot, then that one tree you were staring at for a second too long is the place you are going to end up.
That’s also the reason why people tend to hit the only upright thing on an otherwise empty 5km stretch of road.
The call of the void is perfectly natural and almost everyone does it.
Brain: “hey, don’t do this scenario, it’ll kill you.”
Me: "yeah, no shit brain.
I have small kids. Believe me, this is the voice of your parents echoing back at you.
Child’s brain: “do it, it’ll be super rad!”
Parent: “oh lawd!”
But is it normal if it meows and steal my shrimps?
Very
Is it supposed to happen every time I see a thick enough tree by the roadside and every bridge stanchion though?
Probably more common than you think. I know someone who worked in the transport industry. They had one advice they gave everyone: “when you’re driving while tired or stressed, hyperfocus on the two lines on the road in front of you. NEVER look at any tree or pole on the side of the road.”
That advice has a different reason.
We automatically steer where our eyes are looking at. If you are awake and focused, that doesn’t matter cause you adjust for that subconsciously. But if you are preoccupied with something and are driving on autopilot, then that one tree you were staring at for a second too long is the place you are going to end up.
That’s also the reason why people tend to hit the only upright thing on an otherwise empty 5km stretch of road.
I’ve heard the same from bikers that narrowly dodged accidents by hyperfocusing on the gap between the cars, Jako302 in the thread explains it well
This only happened to me when i was in a mentally very bad state. It’s not healthy behavior.