A Dérive, defined "a mode of experimental behaviour linked to the conditions of urban society: a technique of rapid passage through varied ambiances." is an unplanned journey in which the participants are to 'let tempers be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounter they find there'. this activity requires the participant to essentially get lost and follow what their eye finds attractive. Originally the dérive was a critical tool for understanding and developing the theory of psychogeography.
Phychogoegraphy
Pychogeography is the exploration of an urban environment, it emphasises the relationship and communication of people to the places and random routs, similar to a derive. the physical definition of pychogeography is, "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals."
Situationism
ultimately situationism is the theory that when someone changes their behaviour, the reason their behaviour is changed depends on the situation, instead of the traits that the person possesses. this links back to the top two paragraphs as situationalists believe that thoughts, feelings, and past experiences/behaviours do not determine what someone will do in a given situation rather the situation itself does. meaning that you can never be sure what way they go. overall I believe that if you where to successfully Dérive, you'd have to put yourself in the shoes of a situationalist and let the moment of time pick which way you will next go, things light shapes or light could be a leading factor in the dérive itself, however that shouldn't stop the person form deriveing.