Are sneezes to blame for car accidents?
Most of us have. Young and old drivers are to blame. We’ve all probably sneezed at the wheel at some point. When we travel, cross intersections, change lanes, and go about our business while driving, the tingling can strike at any time. After the tingling comes the panic, just as he realizes that a sneeze could cause an accident.
Most drivers make it through a sneeze while driving unscathed. But some have accidents caused by this uncontrollable and unpredictable reflex. The dangers of sneezing while driving can be frightening.
Sneeze statistics at the wheel
Little research has been done on the subject of sneezing while driving in the US, but British researchers have paid attention and noted some remarkable statistics.
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According to a study by English cold and flu medicine Olbas Max Strength, more than two million car accidents have been caused by sneezes.
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British car repair company Halfords Autocentres reported that 2.6 million UK drivers admitted to taking their eyes off the road due to cold or flu symptoms. Halfords also blamed 2,500 accidents each week during British winters on these unidentified cold and flu conditions. Of course, sneezes are the most likely culprit in these flu-related accidents.
In the United States, the National Safety Council (NSC) is clear that distracted driving is very deadly. That organization reports that 1.6 million car accidents are caused by distracted driving each year, specifically blaming the driver’s cell phone use or texting while driving. But the NSC has not provided statistics on sneezing and driving.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers distracted driving to be any form of vehicular operation that could be classified into one or more of these three types:
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Visual: Eyes turn away from the road while driving
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Manual: hands are removed from the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion
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Cognitive: The driver’s mind is not focused on vehicle operation and safety while driving
Clearly, sneezing while driving can fall into all three categories at once. Beyond distraction, a particularly loud sneeze can add violent head movement to the reflex. Drivers have been known to hit their heads on the steering wheel and other internal surfaces of the car.
According to Halfords, drivers who sneeze at the wheel while driving 60 miles per hour can travel 50 feet or more with their eyes completely closed. Sneezes can cause temporary disorientation and watery eyes as a consequence, adding to the distance potentially traveled without visual control.
Accidents on American highways caused by sneezes while driving
While statistical data is scarce for this category of distracted driving in the United States, the results of sneezing while driving are clear. Police have reported many car accidents across the country.
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In Missouri in 2012, the death of a single mother was blamed on a school teacher who lost control of her car due to a sneeze.
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In New Hartford, New York, a driver ran off the road due to a sneeze.
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A woman in Massachusetts probably got quite the fright when she rear-ended a state trooper because of a sneeze.
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In San Leandro, California, a truck driver who sneezed caused a collision with 10 other cars.
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A driver died after a crash caused by a sneeze in Salisbury, Maryland, in 2011.
Experts analyze the dangers of sneezing while driving
UK police officer Steve Rounds said of sneezing while driving: “Sneezing can cause the sufferer to close their eyes temporarily.” He continued: “Driving a car with severe cold symptoms is certainly irresponsible and an accident resulting in death or serious injury can expose the sneezing driver to dangerous driving charges.”
A Phoenix car accident attorney from Cantor Crane advises drivers to try to stop if a sneeze is coming. Your vehicle can be considered a deadly weapon when it is in motion. This makes it very important to focus on the road when behind the wheel. This means keeping your eyes and mind on the road, with your hands on the wheel. Because studies indicate that seven percent of drivers who sneeze have accidents due to their cold-related reflex, Crane stresses the importance of considering a sneeze as dangerous as other forms of distracted driving. “Your actions can cause injury and even death. So it’s very important to be responsible the next time you sneeze while driving your vehicle.”
