Risky Driving and the Brain

LONGVIEW, Texas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists several kinds of risky driving activities that lead to accidents each year. Drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding, and drowsy driving contribute to thousands of accidents and leave thousands injured as a result. Distracted driving is increasingly reaching epidemic levels, with states across the country passing laws to prevent drivers from picking up their phones while driving. Why do people engage in these risky behaviors? According to Scientific American, it may have a large part to do with how brains perceive risk and danger.

Inside the brain, there are cells located in the hippocampus that trigger anxiety and stress when we encounter a dangerous situation. There are other cells in our brain that scientists have identified that fire to tell us that we are safe when we enter risky situations. (These are the same cells that allow us to do things that challenge us, like speaking in public.) Scientists are trying to understand how these two sets of cells affect us and the results might be able to help people who suffer from anxiety and also help scientists understand the nature of risk-taking.

The kinds of brain waves that are measured differ depending on whether a person is exploring their surroundings, as opposed to when they are encountering a threat. The brain exhibits high frequency waves during exploration activities and low frequency waves when encountering threats. The problem can arise if your brain stops perceiving high-risk driving activities as risky. If you text and drive too often, or if you drink and drive on a regular basis, your brain may start to normalize these activities and not see them as dangerous as they are.

Yet, can we blame biology alone for risk-taking behavior and risky driving in general?

No. At the end of the day, the prefrontal cortex is ultimately responsible for our decision-making capacity. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for your higher-order decision making. This is why it is possible to feel fear and still push past it—like when you’re trying something new, like diving. It is also why it is possible to understand intellectually that something is dangerous—like texting and driving, and make a conscious effort to avoid doing it, even when we feel the urge to pick up our phones.

At the end of the day, each individual is responsible for his or her actions. If you or a loved one was hurt due to the negligent driving of another person or party, you may have the right to seek compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and rehabilitation expenses. The Cooper Law Firm are personal injury lawyers in Longview, Texas who work closely with victims and their families to help them get the justice they may deserve. If you have been hurt, you may be facing a range of new challenges and expenses. You don’t have to navigate the legal and claims process alone. Visit us at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037