Final answer:
Not hearing the clicking of a turn signal while focused on finding a restaurant is due to absentmindedness, which is a lapse in memory because your attention is focused on a more relevant task.
Step-by-step explanation:
While driving down the road looking for the new restaurant you want to try out, not hearing the clicking of the turn signal you forgot to turn off until one of your friends points it out is likely due to absentmindedness. This term refers to lapses in memory caused by breaks in attention, often because your focus is elsewhere. For example, when you are deeply concentrating on finding a location, other actions such as the sound of the turn signal can be tuned out, especially if they have become automatized through routine.
Absentmindedness occurs when your attention is captured by tasks that hold more relevance to your current goals, such as navigating to a destination. It's a common phenomenon, and we've all likely experienced it in different forms, whether it's forgetting if we've locked a door, left appliances running, or not hearing familiar but insignificant sounds.