When you are driving, one thing that may never cross your mind is whether being dehydrated is dangerous for operating a car or not. While the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs are well-publicized, the dangers of dehydration are yet to catch on. Various researches conducted by experts have proven that being dehydrated actually affects your ability to drive.
Therefore, the next time you get out of your house, do not forget to drink plenty of water. It would also help to carry a bottle in your car at all times. Meanwhile, if a negligent driver has hit your vehicle, contact an auto accident lawyer for help.
Is driving while dehydrated dangerous?
Yes. Most people think not drinking water should not affect their driving, while others do not even associate water and driving at all. However, we should not forget that water is an important component of our body. Seventy percent of the human body is made up of water, and thus, it is required for various bodily functions.
According to research, dehydration can impair your judgment and cognitive ability, both of which are extremely important if you want to drive safely on the road. Along with that, the research also showed that dehydration could alter or affect your mood, which could also possibly have an effect on your driving.
The research concluded that a dehydrated driver has slower reflexes and reacts slower than drivers who drink adequate water. Mood changes caused by lack of water in the body could result in reckless driving and road rage due to irritability on the road.
The science behind dehydration affecting your driving
As we have stated before, the human body is mostly constituted of water. This means that water is an important component of the human body. It is required for various physiological processes that help your body run smoothly.
Water helps maintain blood circulation, body temperature regulation, metabolism, detoxification, and brain activity. When a person does not drink the recommended amount of water, these physiological processes suffer. But, the thing that affects your driving the most is reduced brain activity.
Cognitive ability is one of the most important factors contributing to safe driving. Not thinking clearly, short-term memory, and trouble staying alert can all be dangerous on the road.
How to avoid dehydration while driving?
Avoiding dehydration is fairly simple: drink water. If you often forget to drink water and go hours without drinking it, you could set up reminders on your phone. Using a water intake app and buying a time-marked water bottle can motivate you to drink more water.