http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/25/trooper_down/?page=full From the article: "Similarly, several studies conducted in driving simulators have suggested that drivers may “steer where they look.” As a study published in Journal of Experimental Psychology reported, “there is a systematic and reliable tendency for operators to follow their direction of gaze with their direction of travel, in many cases without the conscious awareness of doing so at all.” So, the thought is, drivers intrigued by a roadside emergency may subtly steer in the direction of the emergency. But whether drivers do this in the real world, or do it enough to cause accidents, remains an open question." I've found myself doing this on occasion. Since I know I have a tendency to do this, I try NOT to "rubber neck" when driving by accidents and the like.

ronin 

 I agree, ronin, I'm always "scanning" when I drive. Looking forward, looking left and right, checking outside and inside rear view mirrors, checking instrument panel.

TomCat1346 

Maybe this is why people watching tv sets on their dashboards (or mounted on the windshield) are often even more inept than other drivers (which itself is shocking)!

oddjob3422 

 I scan too, and try not to look around unless I am at a light or otherwise stopped. There are few curbs here to stop me if I wander off the road, just ditches and tall grass, I wouldn't go far, but I would never be able to live it down :D AO

alaskan outside