Five Common Health Issues That Will Affect Your Ability To Drive.
Driving is a dangerous task, and you must be of good physical and mental health in order to engage in it. However, we all suffer from the odd illness now and again. Some of these issues aren’t going to do serious damage, but others could pose real problems. We’ve picked out five examples that might just pose some roadblocks.
Anxiety
We all know what anxiety is. It can affect a sufferer’s life in all sorts of ways, preventing them from the doing things they really love to do. Unfortunately, it’s debilitating in the fact that it prevents quick decision-making in many cases. Behind the wheel, this isn’t something that can be afforded. The lack of ability to make good judgments and focus intently could put the driver, and others, at risk.
Diabetes
Those who suffer from diabetes can experience low blood sugar levels. When this happens, all sorts of problems can occur. Blurred vision, lack of concentration and more potential problems might arise. And, here’s something to remember: a breathalyzer won’t always clear a diabetic. As mentioned at Diabetic Health, the similarity in symptoms between low blood glucose levels and drunk driving are high. If you do find yourself being slapped with a DWI, there are specialists like Mace Yampolsky that will clear your name. Hopefully, it won’t come to that!
Dementia
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that dementia poses all sorts of problems for a driver. However, it is possible for those in the early stages of the condition to keep driving in a limited way. Driving with the condition is dangerous under most circumstances, though, and it’s best avoided. It can reduce concentration, awareness, judgment and much more.
Medicated Illnesses
We’re not focusing on one specific illness with this point. The reality is that many of us are using medication on a very regular basis. Some of us make it a daily routine! Many of those medications have the ability to affect how we drive. We can’t possibly list all the side effects here – you’ll find them included with your medication. If you’re in any doubt, check with your doctor before driving. You shouldn’t take any non-prescribed medications without checking with a medical professional, either.
Tiredness
It’s the most obvious point on our list, but it’s also the one that might shock you the most. Let’s take some info from the Drowsy Driving website. Here’s a quote – “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.” Do I need to say anymore? Look at all those needless deaths. If we just took the extra time to build up our energy, we’d be saving countless lives. Tiredness will affect your ability to drive, whether you believe it or not.
If you’re not in good health, think twice before going on your next road trip. It’s imperative that you’re up to the task.
