Final answer:
Checking various visual cues while driving helps maintain situational awareness and safety. Planning routes and being aware of traffic conditions contribute to safer and more efficient commuting. Technological advancements in monitoring traffic can affect privacy but also aid in managing traffic flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Checking mirrors, the roadway, your path of travel, and traffic behind you are all part of maintaining situational awareness and safe driving practices.
These actions help ensure the driver is aware of their surroundings and can make informed decisions to avoid accidents or unsafe situations. When driving, it's essential to consider the potential impact of external observations, like being followed by a police car, which may influence our driving behavior.
Planning routes and understanding commuting issues such as traffic congestion, accidents, and pollution can also contribute to safer travel and more efficient commuting.
Technology plays a role in modern commuting through systems like electronic toll collection and the pervasive use of GPS, which can raise privacy concerns but also help in monitoring and managing traffic flow. Meanwhile, routinely commuting can eventually turn into an automatic process where cognitive effort is reduced, a state often referred to as 'autopilot.' However, it's crucial to maintain active engagement with the task of driving to ensure safety at all times.