Are sneezing to blame for car accidents?

Most of us have. Drivers young and old are guilty. We’ve all probably sneezed at the wheel at some point. When we travel, cross intersections, change lanes and go about our business while driving, tingling can appear at any time. After the tingles comes panic, just as he realizes that a sneeze could cause an accident.

Most drivers manage to get out unscathed from a sneeze while driving. But some have accidents caused by this uncontrollable and unpredictable reflex. The dangers of sneezing while driving can be frightening.

Statistics on sneezing at the wheel

Little research has been done on the subject of sneezing while driving in the US, but British researchers have paid attention and noted some remarkable statistics.

• According to a study by English cold and flu medicine Olbas Max Strength, more than two million car accidents have been caused by sneezing.

• British car repair company Halfords Autocentres reported that 2.6 million UK drivers admitted taking their eyes off the road due to cold or flu symptoms. Halfords also blamed 2,500 accidents each week during British winters on these unidentified cold and flu conditions. Of course, sneezing is the most likely culprit in these flu-generated accidents.

In the United States, the National Safety Council (NSC) is clear that distracted driving is very deadly. That organization reports that 1.6 million car accidents are caused by distracted driving each year, specifically blaming cell phone use or texting by the driver while driving. But the NSC hasn’t provided statistics on sneezing and driving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers distracted driving to be any form of vehicular operation that could fall into one or more of these three types:

• Visual – eyes are taken away from the road while driving

• Manual: hands are removed from the wheel while the vehicle is in motion

• Cognitive: the driver’s mind is not focused on vehicle operation and safety while driving

Clearly, sneezing while driving can fall into all three categories at once. Beyond distraction, a particularly loud sneeze can add a violent head shake to the reflex. Drivers have been known to hit their heads on the steering wheel and other internal surfaces of the car.

According to Halfords, drivers who sneeze at the wheel while driving at 60 miles per hour can travel 50 feet or more with their eyes completely closed. Sneezing can cause temporary disorientation and consequent watery eyes, adding to the distance potentially traveled without visual control.

Accidents on American highways caused by sneezing while driving

While statistical data is sparse for this category of distracted driving in the United States, the results for sneezing while driving are clear. Police have reported many car accidents across the country.

• In Missouri in 2012, the death of a single mother was blamed on a school teacher who lost control of her car due to a sneeze.

• In New Hartford, New York, a driver sneezed off the road.

• A woman in Massachusetts likely freaked out when she rear-ended a state police trooper due to a sneeze.

• In San Leandro, California, a trucker who sneezed caused a collision with 10 other cars.

• A driver died after a crash caused by a sneeze in Salisbury, Maryland, in 2011.

Experts Discuss the Dangers of Sneezing While Driving

UK Police Officer Steve Rounds said of sneezing while driving: “Sneezing can cause the sufferer to close their eyes temporarily.” He continued: “Driving a car with severe cold symptoms is certainly irresponsible and an accident resulting in death or serious injury can expose the sneezing driver to dangerous driving charges.”

A Phoenix car accident lawyer from Cantor Crane advises drivers to try to stop if a sneeze is coming. Your vehicle can be considered a deadly weapon when on the move. This makes it very important to focus on the road when behind the wheel. This means keeping your eyes and mind on the road, with your hands on the wheel. Because studies indicate that seven percent of drivers who sneeze have accidents due to their chill-related reflex, Crane stresses the importance of considering a sneeze as dangerous as other forms of distracted driving. “Your actions can cause injury and even death. Therefore, it is very important to be responsible the next time you sneeze while driving your vehicle.”