Health Behind the Wheel

Question: Seventh-day Adventist Christians are health-conscious, but can our lifestyle practices help prevent traffic injuries and fatalities?

Answer: Road traffic injuries remain one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.19 million people die each year because of road traffic crashes, while tens of millions more suffer nonfatal injuries, many resulting in long-term disability. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5-29 years, making motor vehicle safety a major public health priority. Although vehicle technology and road design have improved considerably, human behavior remains a dominant factor in crashes and fatalities.

Several factors contribute significantly to motor vehicle accidents. Excessive speed, distracted driving, failure to wear seat belts, impaired driving, and fatigue are among the most common causes. Distracted driving has become increasingly important with the widespread use of mobile phones and in-vehicle technology. Research has shown that engaging in secondary tasks while driving increases the risk of crashes and near crashes substantially.[*]

Good health practices play a crucial role in preventing accidents. Alcohol remains one of the most important contributors to fatal crashes worldwide because it impairs judgment, reaction time, coordination, and vision. Illegal drugs pose similar risks. Additionally, some prescriptions—including certain sleep aids, sedatives, opioids, antihistamines, and anxiety medications—may also impair alertness and driving performance. Drivers should always understand the effects of any pharmaceutical before getting behind the wheel.

Adequate sleep is equally essential. Sleep deprivation slows reaction time, reduces attention, impairs decision-making, and can lead to microsleeps lasting only a few seconds—more than enough time to cause a catastrophic crash. Experts increasingly recognize drowsy driving as a major but underappreciated public safety threat.

Although vehicle technology and road design have improved considerably, human behavior remains a dominant factor in crashes and fatalities.

Vision is another critical component of safe driving. Uncorrected refractive errors can reduce the ability to detect hazards, judge distances, read road signs, and drive safely at night. Regular eye examinations and appropriate corrective lenses are simple yet highly effective preventive measures.

Even seemingly minor behaviors can affect safety. Loud music may mask such warning sounds as sirens, horns, or mechanical problems and contribute to distraction. High levels of noise and emotional stimulation can also increase irritability and aggression, potentially contributing to road rage. Road rage itself often arises from impatience, stress, fatigue, and a lack of self-control, turning minor driving errors into dangerous confrontations.

For Christians, safe driving is more than a legal obligation—it is an expression of love for others. The biblical command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 10:31) applies on the roadway as surely as anywhere else. Courtesy, patience, kindness, and consideration for other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can reduce conflict and prevent tragedy. When drivers choose self-control instead of anger, attentiveness instead of distraction, and concern for others instead of selfishness, roads become safer for everyone. Christian love, expressed through respect and consideration, may not eliminate every accident, but it can help create a culture in which many preventable injuries and deaths are avoided. May we each “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37), reflecting the love and grace of Jesus.

[*] Sheila G. Klauer and Zachary R. Doerzaph, “Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention,” New England Journal of Medicine 393, no. 5 (2025): 479-486, doi:10.1056/NEJMra2216360.