A recent study in the Journal of Physiology and Behavior found that dehydration poses a significant risk to drivers.
Researchers at Loughborough University in England examined the driving skills of 12 male participants during the study using a simulator. The subjects were instructed to consume 200 cc of water per hour on the day of the initial testing in order to stay properly hydrated. Volunteers drank only 25 cc of water one hour prior to the second round.
The test findings showed the difference in hydration. The dehydrated drivers made a total of 101 mistakes over the course of a two-hour simulated highway journey, while the hydrated drivers only committed 47. In other words, drivers who were dehydrated committed more than twice as many mistakes.
According to researchers, this constituted the same increase in errors as would be anticipated while driving when intoxicated or fatigued or when the legal limit in England is 0.8. Keep reading to learn more about this topic, and remember to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have been involved in a car accident and require help from a personal injury attorney.
Why lack of hydration causes poor driving
Given that dehydration has detrimental physiological effects, this makes sense. The body contains almost 65 percent water, and as hydration levels decline, a variety of water-dependent systems, including blood circulation, metabolism, body temperature regulation, and detoxification, start to suffer. The most concerning from the perspective of driving safety is decreased brain activity, which results in impaired cognition, decreased alertness, and issues with short-term memory. This can cause a variety of symptoms.
Researchers found that the amount of dehydration caused in the trial was actually quite low. It is comparable to what a person who has a busy schedule could feel at the conclusion of a long day or what a person who is attempting to avoid rest stops might go through on a cross-country trip.
Dehydration should be on your list of things to do not while driving
It becomes evident from this new knowledge that cautious drivers now have a list of 4 “Ds” to avoid:
- Impaired driving
- Sleepy driving
- Driving while distracted
- Drinking while driving
Car accident claims and 4 “ds”
Unless the at-fault driver acknowledges to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, dehydration and drowsiness may be too difficult to show to be used as evidence of liability in an automobile accident. Richer material is provided by drunk driving and distracted driving. The police will likely provide a breathalyzer test to the driver who caused your vehicle accident if they look to be intoxicated. This test can be used as proof in your car accident injury claim. You might be able to locate eyewitnesses who can confirm this information if they were distracted by using their phone, eating, or in any other way.
In any situation, if you have been hurt in a car accident, make sure to call a knowledgeable attorney like Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas straight away for help. You can reach us at 909-982-0707 for help today.
