Everyone is aware of the effects of having an automobile accident but are you aware of the other potential risks to your health from driving? Almost 4,000 Texans will lose their lives in motor vehicle crash this year and while that’s alarming by itself there are plenty of other effects to our health that come from driving that we are really only just discovering.
The open road means freedom for us here in Texas. It is a right of passage for teenagers turning 16. We use our cars to tell other people about who we are. Many of us have emotional connections to our car. But while cars can be cool, the amount of time we spend in them can have deleterious effects on our minds and our bodies.
A large Australian study shows that spending two hours a day driving your car increases your risks for adverse health effects. The study also finds that it’s not just two hours commuting to and from work that are the problem but any driving that adds up to two or more hours a day. A Berkley study found that if you drive an average of 25 miles a day you’re at increased risk of dying early.
