Heat can make driving deadly (Psychology Today)
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Heat clouds people's thinking, resulting in poor decisions, and lowers impulse control, resulting in more violent crime. Put those two facts together, and the implications for driving become clear. When judgment is impaired and impulses take over, the consequences behind the wheel can be severe.
Sometimes, phrases like “impaired judgment” or “impulsive decision-making” sound too abstract. Consider what they look like in traffic: speeding, turning without signaling, impatient overtaking, ignoring blind spots, road rage, reversing without checking, tailgating, jaywalking.
Driving Under the Influence of Heat
The effects of extreme heat on driving have been known for decades. Research from the 1970s and 1980s indicated that high temperatures reduce attention span and increase driver fatigue, sometimes leading to drowsiness. Extreme heat impairs cognitive functions and increases risky behaviours such as speeding and aggressive driving. It also decreases reaction times and makes drivers more prone to distraction. And sun glare can reduce visibility.
All of these factors can add up and increase the risk of crashes.
