How can anyone 'forget' that they've left their toddler in the car for 5 hours?

[sonearsofar]

I've just heard the terrible story in the news today. Apparently an Italian university 'forgot' that he had left his 22 month old toddler in the back of the car. She died after being in there for 5 hours.

This is so sad, those poor people.

I think driving is particularly likely to trick your brain like this because there is such a routine to it. I drive about a lot for work and I can set off thinking 'I'm going to X place to do Y' and then start thinking of something else and the next thing I know I'm a few miles in the wrong direction heading for home! I can never understand how my brain allows this to happen but it does fairly frequently.