Everyone's Health

Drivers Health

Here's some motoring health news that you probably already knew (assuming you're conscious), and some news that you've probably long suspected.

A French study of more than 13,000 middle-age drivers found that, according to the drivers themselves, 36 percent drove their cars “a few times a year” while feeling sleepy. Slightly less than 1 percent drove while slumberous once

a month on average; 0.3 percent once a week; and 0.2 percent more than once a week.

The researchers then compared this information with the risk of serious traffic accidents and found that drivers who drove while sleepy a few times a year were 1.5 times more likely to be involved in a serious mishap. For those who regularly drove in a torpid state, the figure was almost three times.

The researchers' conclusion: Don't drive while drowsy.

Meanwhile, across the channel in England, a study in the British Medical Journal found that observed drivers of four-wheel-drive vehicles were more likely to flout laws regarding cell phone and seat belt use.

In England, it's against the law to use a cell phone while driving.

Researchers found that operators of four-wheel-drive vehicles were four times more likely to use cell phones while driving and more likely to forgo wearing seat belts. They speculated that such drivers mistakenly believe they are safer in such vehicles and thus freer to engage in risky behavior.

Such as, perhaps, driving on the left side of the road?

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