# Sneezing while driving **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064 "2002-09-29T03:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/1 "2002-09-29T03:23:59Z")
It’s been said that one cannot open their eyes while sneezing. I’m not sure if this is an actual medical fact, though. But for the purposes of this thread, let’s assume so. If I am driving at a fairly rapid rate of speed (that is, not 45 miles per hour, but more like a highway speed) and sneeze, and then immediately crash my car into the median, am I at fault? Yes, I can see you guys getting your backs up already! I’m not completely serious, mind you, but I do wonder if it’s ever been used as a defense. My guess is that since one is supposed to be responsible for the control of one’s vehicle at all times, a normal sneeze isn’t enough to force one to lose control of the vehicle. Even if it did, I would guess that in the eyes of the law I’m still responsibile, sneeze or no sneeze. In short, my guess is that the Sneeze Defense wouldn’t work. So, anyone know of any times when this defense was attempted? 🙂 Or if not, do you think it might work? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/2 "2002-09-29T03:30:56Z")
For me, the danger of a wreck originates not from the fact that when I sneeze, my eyes are closed for a split second. Instead, it’s because the after effects make it appear as if a city bus hit a pothole full of water next to me and the entire contents were splashed onto my windshield. Now I’m looking at approaching traffic as if through a funhouse mirror. Personally, I think we all should drive bumpercars. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/3 "2002-09-29T03:42:21Z")
You’ve touched on a fear I’ve had since I started driving. Back in the mid-seventies, there was a public service ad that showed a woman in a long line of traffic sneezing, and then she crashed her car spectacularly into the car in front of her. The announcer intoned something in a deep, ominous voice about how little time it took to have an accident. I believe this spot was intended to highlight the dangers of following too closely, but the indelible message I got was that one should never, ever sneeze while driving. I get very tense when it happens. You’re supposed to be driving the car in such a manner that an extremely short interruption in sight won’t make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/4 "2002-09-29T06:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InternetLegend \* > \*\*You’re supposed to be driving the car in such a manner that an extremely short interruption in sight won’t make a difference. \*\* Don’t have allergies, eh? The last month has been pretty bad for me and I dread driving the 25 miles to work at 75 MPH speeds. If I have an onset I’ll usually have several violent sneezes rapidly in a row (think Tom Hanks + anchovies and crackers on _The Burbs_) then slow down to about one even more violent sneeze per 30 seconds. As **lieu** pointed out, by this time my eyes are very watery and swelling shut. If it gets this bad I’ll pull over on the shoulder (not something easy to do in heavy traffic). I dunno about being at fault in an accident. I suppose if you can prove a history of allergies at that time of the year that it might be ruled as a no fault same as in the case of having a heart attack, stroke, seizure, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/5 "2002-09-29T10:58:07Z")
I’ve thought of this before. I’ve sneezed one of those sneezes where, not just a normal “achooo”, but, where your whole body had to hitch up and it felt like your head was about to blow up. I mean, you just can’t do anything else but convulse. I thought about what would happen if one were to get into an accident at that particular point. I guess one who be at fault but, try making THAT argument by the side of the road. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/6 "2002-09-29T11:43:06Z")
If you feel a really bad sneeze-spasm coming on you _could_ hit your hazard lights, which will cause other drivers to notice you a bit more and possible give you a touch more room. If you had a history of allergies and had an accident while sneezing you _might_ get a pass on consequences BUT you also might be in trouble for not properly treating a medical condition that lead to hazardous driving. ---
**Author:** ![Turbo\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Turbo\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turbo_Dog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/7 "2002-09-29T13:56:12Z")
I hate those sudden sneeze-o-ramas, especially when on a motorcycle on the freeway. Besides being scary, because I’m not in control for those fractions of seconds, my faceshield sometimes gets pretty ikky. Not as bad as one time when I vomited in a full face helment, but still. You would still be held accountable for an accident, but at least it would be because of something worthwhile, rather than just stupidity. It might not matter to the cops or the insurance company, but I know that I would feel better than if I just hit something cuz I was talking on the phone or fiddling with the radio. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/8 "2002-09-29T17:46:51Z")
I remember in drivers ed they told me that if I felt a sneeze coming on, that I should pull over immediately so as not to put myself and others in danger. I always thought that this was ridiculous, since by the time I think I’m going to sneeze, its a VERY short time until I actually do, and the manoevers necessary to pull over are a heck of a lot more complicated than those needed to keep the car going straight! I remove my foot from the gas, and just concentrate on not hitting the car ahead of me while I sneeze…Hasn’t given me problems yet! ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/9 "2002-09-29T18:34:43Z")
Wow - this just happened to me the other day! I’ve been driving for 22 years, and I never really thought about it - until a few days ago. I don’t have allergies, but while I was driving, I felt an enormous sneeze coming on. I never sneeze just once, it’s always a series of 2 or 3. I held them in the best I could, and it worked. Crisis over. I clamped my fingers on my nose, that suppressed the sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/10 "2002-09-30T11:29:56Z")
I usually just let 'er rip. Get out the biggest sneeze i can, and grip the wheel with both hands. I usually don’t have sneezing fits, though, and I figure one big sneeze is better than 2 or 3 little ones. ---
**Author:** ![ghandi5569](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@ghandi5569](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghandi5569)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/11 "2002-09-30T11:38:43Z")
I don’t think there’s a problem with actually sneezing while driving. For me, I make sure I’ve got plenty of space between me and the car in front of me, sneeze, and keep driving. The problem (and potential accident) comes from trying to find a tissue or tissue-like substance in my car, wrestle it into usable form (either out of a pack or out of my center console which likes to eat things), blow my nose one handed while driving at speeds that are more daredevilish than safe while avoiding smearing snot all over the rest of my face. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/12 "2002-09-30T14:13:23Z")
As a defense, it’s probably a worthless argument, as it’s easily demonstrable that one can sneeze with eyes open (and should, if driving). In fact, my default mode is to sneeze with eyes open. On the highjack side, if you feel a sneeze coming on, you can often short-circuit it by pressing a finger on the top of your [_philtrum_](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_078a.html). ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/13 "2002-09-30T14:17:50Z")
You can also just plain swallow. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/14 "2002-09-30T14:26:07Z")
Yeah but if that doesn’t work you’ve just loaded your throat with liquid ammo. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/15 "2002-09-30T14:38:47Z")
This reminds me of a coffee incident, I was driving and sipping a cuppa joe, when I got some down the wrong pipe. With the prospect of having a coughing fit while driving 75mph, I just let fly with one big cough, instead of trying to swallow it. Coffee all over the inside of the windshield, and the steering wheel to boot. But, I could still see OK (well, good enough) and was still going straight and true, so I figure it was the right decision. You can always clean up later. ---
**Author:** ![FunGuy\_from\_Yuggoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FunGuy\_from\_Yuggoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FunGuy_from_Yuggoth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/16 "2002-10-02T03:40:45Z")
As a series-sneezer, this is something I’ve faced a few times. I usually manage to complete each individual sneeze pretty quickly, so I can grab a quick snapshot of the road between episodes. I have no idea what the legal consequences would be of an accident while “in sneezio media.” TMI warning: I do; however, know that I seriously need to wipe down the driver’s side of my car. Ahh, the joys of allergy season. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/17 "2002-10-02T14:16:55Z")
I’m with **Ringo** - we are, apparently, living proof that “you can’t sneeze with your eyes open” is bullshit. In fact, the first time I attempted it (and did it successfully) was the first time a sneeze snuck up on me while behind the wheel. I also do my best to stifle the sneeze, hopefully avoiding the whole “hosing down the dashboard and windshield” situation. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/18 "2002-10-02T14:26:05Z")
Dang. So I guess if it’s just a myth, it’d never hold up in court. There goes my alibi! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/19 "2002-10-02T14:52:33Z")
I’ve always wondered about this too. Also, what happens if you’re driving and your contact lenses start irritating you and you can’t see? I mean, I don’t drive, but if I did…I’d be a bit afraid for my own life. Oh yeah, and the lives of others, can’t forget them. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064/20 "2002-10-02T15:17:16Z")
Sneezing while driving (I have terrible allergies) is also something that concerns me. I, too, try to take a mental snapshot of the road and surrounding vehicles before I sneeze. What really scares me is sneezing while driving in inclement weather or sneezing on a winding or curvy road or while in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I make sure to keep the air conditioner on while driving in allergy season and circulate the air that’s in the car (as opposed to opening the vents) to lessen the chance of an allergy attack. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-while-driving/130064.md?page=2)