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Health Risks Of Driving You Shouldn't Ignore

If you have your own vehicle, then commuting becomes a lot easier. You do not have to depend upon any other means of transport to get to your destination. Your time is in your hands and this feeling of independence brings about a positive feeling in you. But with this benefit of self-dependence come some health risks of driving.

You might be wondering what could be the risks associated with driving? You steering is in your hands and you know that you are not going to make any mistake. But that is what you think. Accidents do not happen on purpose.

Health Risks Of Driving You Shouldn't Ignore

Besides, the accidents that occur may not always be due to your mistake. It could also be another party’s fault. In either case, there is more than one person who suffers.

Driving side effects are many which may lead to some serious health problems. So what are these multiple health risks of driving? Let us try to look into some of them.

Accidents: As per World Health Organisation report, an estimated 1.24 million deaths were caused by road accidents in 2010. Do we need to say more about the risks of accidents while driving?

Reckless drivers: You might be one of the finest drivers but is every other driver on the road a good one? You will never know about this. You may be as careful as possible but due the fault of some other driver, you might run into a difficult situation.

Drowsy driving: With time constraints and extra load of work, many people suffer from lack of sleep. When driving, you will never know when drowsiness catches up on you. It may be just for a second or two, but on a place like a freeway or highway, this may have serious consequences.

Stress: Too much work, emotional troubles, financial problems and many more such complications in life may make you a victim of stress. Driving in this stressed state of mind may get you distracted and lead you into trouble zone. To some extent, stress could also be one of the health risks of driving if you happen to be driving through heavy traffic on a daily basis.

Back ache: This is one of the driving side effects that affect those who drive for long hours, especially those who drive for a living. Even a motorbike driver can suffer back ache since a motorbike has nothing to recline on and one is required to sit up straight at all times.

Dim light: This could be one of those unfavourable situations that come once in a while, like a foggy day. You may have your fog lights switched on but if you do not drive with care in times of low visibility, trouble will be waiting for you.

Pedestrian: Zones have been marked for pedestrians but there are many who cross midway or do not follow the traffic rules at all. When such unexpected persons come in front of you while driving, controlling the vehicle can be difficult. It may be the fault of the pedestrian but it is always the driver who is blamed first.

Toxic fumes: If you happen to be driving a car with the windows rolled up, you may escape the gas fumes from other cars to a great extent. However, if you happen to be on a motorbike or a car with windows rolled down, there will be a great deal of toxic fumes around you continuously entering your system. These fumes are identified as serious health risks of driving.

Story first published: Friday, September 19, 2014, 17:42 [IST]
Read more about: wellness