Which of the following is an example of divided attention?

Divided attention refers to the ability to process information from multiple sources or manage several tasks at once. This concept is essential during driving, where a driver must monitor their surroundings, adhere to traffic signals, and respond to other vehicles all while controlling the vehicle itself.

Choosing to concentrate on two or more tasks simultaneously exemplifies divided attention because it highlights the difficulty in maintaining focus on all tasks involved. For instance, a driver who is trying to simultaneously navigate through traffic while engaging with a passenger or managing the radio is experiencing divided attention, which can lead to increased risk of accidents.

Listening to music while driving can be a common activity but doesn’t necessarily involve managing multiple tasks in a way that drastically splits one's focus. On the other hand, merely focusing on the road represents single-task attention, and neglecting to check mirrors is a failure to maintain situational awareness rather than an illustration of dividing attention. Thus, the act of managing multiple cognitive tasks is what truly defines divided attention in a driving context.