The UK Telegraph reported
this week that recent studies performed by Cardiff University and the Young
Marmalade insurance company showed that driving with a cold or flu can be just
as hazardous as drinking alcohol and
driving.
A small scale trial was performed
which showed that drivers that had a cold or the flu had much slower reaction times and breaking
became much more frequent. It needs to be pointed out that neither Young Marmalade or
Cardiff University provided any statistics or numbers that resulted from
their study. Also, apparently the slower reaction times were not a result of
cold medicine but rather a lack of sleep, which made sick drivers less
aware.
The findings back up
work done by Cardiff University Common Cold Unit which showed that those with
colds and flu suffered from poor reaction times and alertness and were a third
more likely to hit the roadside curb.
Halfords Winter
Driving Expert Mark Dolphin said: “We want our customers to stay safe. You
shouldn’t drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have
flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else
to take you and avoid driving.
This is an interesting
study that I think has some merit, but I think I would like to see more
concrete statistics and a more widespread study that tests a larger control
group.
If you or someone you
know has been seriously injured in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago personal injury attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com.