Have you ever driven on automatic pilot to the wrong place?

When I was a new first time mum I started to walk home and suddenly realised I had left my little baby in her pram outside the shop. Only a couple of minutes, thankfully but I was so upset!

When my daughter went into labour, my mum and I drove almost all the way to the hospital, getting faster and faster, until we realised we hadn't actually picked my daughter up!

Changed gym and rocked up at old gym for yoga class 😲

Home from boarding school for the weekend, I met my mum at her work (this was obviously some years ago lol). We did a bit of shopping then got in the car to head home.
As we were driving along, I said, "Are we going to aunty Eva's?"
Mum, "No."
Me, "One of the Aunty Mary's?"
Mum, "No. We're going home!"
Me, "So why have you just driven past our house?"
Haha, the daft old girl had totally forgotten we had moved and was driving to the old house, a few doors down from aunty Eva's!
🤣🤣

MissInterpreted

Is it just me who would be a bit concerned about that? Surely if you're driving 'on automatic pilot', you're not fully paying attention to your driving or to the roads?

"Automatic Pilot", was just an expression. I knew the route I took extremely well having lived there for 20+ years, I knew when to look right and left and filter. I just did not use that route on weekdays when I should have used my very well-known route of going to work.
If so many of us have done it what do you suggest we do?
You are a very lucky person if you have never made a mistake when driving.
I believe Calistimon is right some things are just stored in different parts of the brain.
You had better watch out there's more than me who has done it and we are only a very small sample of society.
Perhaps sat navs now help.

This morning, I drove to my friends house, instead of a cafe. However, they are near each other, but once in the wrong lane nearing a roundabout, it was too late to alter course.

I did it this morning - while walking!! and in the pouring rain. An unexpected trip into town when I'd set out for the local petrol station to get my paper. Mind was on other things.

I've only done it that once which was when I was in my 20s!

DS's sense of direction has always been amazing even as a small child.

Yes, I get that, Callistemon21. I think I have a better sense of direction than most - I can find my way around most places even when I've never been somewhere before. I know what you mean about driving a route which do you most days, but some of the stories on here do give me pause for concern, as they seem to be more than just that. Unexpected hazards can crop up out of anywhere - even on a route you drive daily.

Some people have a better developed sense of direction, ie a homing signal, than others too.
Perhaps the 'homing signal' takes over? The automatic pilot.

It is really nice to know I am not the only one.

MissInterpreted

Is it just me who would be a bit concerned about that? Surely if you're driving 'on automatic pilot', you're not fully paying attention to your driving or to the roads?

You can pay full attention to the roads as well as driving a route which you do most days and which is familiar, then find you meant to go somewhere else.
You compartmentalise, use a different part of your brain when concentrating on driving.

Is it just me who would be a bit concerned about that? Surely if you're driving 'on automatic pilot', you're not fully paying attention to your driving or to the roads?

Yes! This morning.

I planned to go to the garden centre but fill up with petrol first.

Came out of the garage and drove straight to Tesco’s! 😮😩
Fortunately, it’s not far from the garden centre.

Sadly, yes, too many times! 🙄🫣🫣

🤣 Just seen Valdavi's - so I'm not the only one who's done it.

Not sure if this counts but worth a laugh , I once drove to work only to realise I hadn't dropped my toddler at nursery.

When we moved house fifteen miles away I found it very difficult to re-orientate myself and it was many months until I stopped driving home via my old home. At least I never actually drove into the drive.

Oh yes, I've done the unintended/remote destination. So glad I'm not alone!

valdavi

I've arrived at work, on time, supposed to be there, all fine, only to hear a little voice from the back saying " you forgot to take me to school"!

🤣🤣🤣

I've arrived at work, on time, supposed to be there, all fine, only to hear a little voice from the back saying " you forgot to take me to school"!

Yes, and I was only in my 20s when I did that.

Every morning I picked up a work colleague who was also a friend; the route to work was around the edge of town and out into the country.

One Saturday I picked her up to go shopping.
When we arrived at work I said "What on earth are we doing here, we were supposed to go into town?"
I must have been on auto-pilot.

Chocolatelovinggran A man walked into DS and DIL's house, said "what am I doing here?" and walked out again. It was the previous owner.

Yes. A year or two ago I found myself in the little seaside town of Sidmouth without having any intention of going there. I think it was the wrong turning off a roundabout and just didn't realise for quite a while.

Years ago my husband and I drove about 80 miles to visit my husband's much loved brother in law, who was ill in hospital. On arrival at the ward we were told he had died a few hours ago.
Obviously we were in shock as we left for the family home. I was driving. After a couple of miles I pulled up behind the car in front as the driver pulled onto his own drive. It was then that I realised that in my shocked state, I simply been following the car in front, rather than consciously driving to our destination.

Yes a long time ago now. I used to take my children to school every day then they changed schools and could get there under their own steam. A couple of times I found myself driving towards their old school for no reason.