Stress whilst driving sharply increases crash risk and depletes vision and concentration, says RACE
Wednesday, July 5, 2017 @ 3:17 PM
FEELING stressed whilst driving can increase the chances of a crash by up to 28% - and most motorists are thinking about life's problems when they are at the wheel, says a ground-breaking study by the Spanish Royal Automobile Club (RACE).
Partly sponsored by petrol giants BP and Castrol, the RACE's research reveals that stress causes drivers to miss up to 20% of traffic signals and creates 'tunnel vision' – an angle of vision of less than 70º – whilst increasing the number of abrupt and erratic moves and sudden accelerations by 17%.
Recalling that distraction at the wheel is the primary cause of fatal road accidents – beyond even alcohol, drugs and speeding – the RACE included a questionnaire in its study answered by over 1,000 motorists.
Of these, 57% say they are thinking about their work while they drive – often because they are running late and panicking, with four in 10 Spanish commuters saying they are regularly late for work because of traffic – and 54% are thinking about family problems whilst at the wheel.
Another 35% worry about money, 33% about their relationships, and 27% about their health.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com