This summer, drivers are reminded to stay hydrated to help them remain focused on the task at hand.
According to researchers at Loughborough University, driving while even mildly dehydrated is equivalent to being over the drink-driving limit in terms of driving errors.
“We all deplore drink-driving, but we don’t usually think about the effects of other things that affect our driving skills, and one of those is not drinking and dehydration,” said Professor Ron Maughan, Emeritus Professor of Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Loughborough University and Chair of the European Hydration Institute Science Advisory Board.
“There is no question that driving while under the influence of drink or drugs increases the risk of accidents, but our findings highlight an unrecognised danger and suggest that drivers should be encouraged to make sure they are properly hydrated.
“To put our results into perspective, the levels of driver errors we found are of a similar magnitude to those found in people with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, the current UK legal driving limit. In other words drivers who are not properly hydrated make the same number of errors as people who are over the drink-drive limit.”
Read the Loughborough University study.
Drivers: ensure you are adequately hydrated before setting off on trips, particularly when driving in summer. Carry a drink with you and take regular stops in safe places to rehydrate. View our Top tips for safe summer travel article for more summer driving advice.
The Natural Hydration Council publishes a list of FAQs relating to topics such as how much water a person should drink each day and whether men need to drink more water than women.
