Bees and wasps - a summer driving distraction

After a long, chilly winter and spring, summer - and all that it brings with it - is just around the corner. It will soon be time for us to don our tee-shirts and shorts, wind the windows down (or the roof if you are lucky enough to have a convertible), and head out for some serious amusement in parks and on beaches.

The vast majority of people agree that beautiful summer days are a time to be out and about, making the most of the rarity which is nice weather in the UK and forgetting about everyday worries like cheap car insurance and doing the weekly shop. Those of us without gardens usually end up jumping in our cars and driving to our nearest common, nature park or seaside resort and making a day of it.

Public holidays such as Spring Bank Holiday and the Summer Bank Holiday are perfect time to do this (when the weather is behaving itself, that is) and millions of us take to the roads for short breaks to enjoy the summer sun. Of course this causes chaos on the UK's A-roads and motorways, especially those which lead along the coast, but this is generally dismissed as being part and parcel of the trip.

However, what many of us forget about in the summer are the insects. Bees and wasps abound, and it is rare to go a few hours without seeing one. A lot of people are not particularly fond of them, and with good reason - a sting can be quite painful and smart for some time. Most of us have been stung at one time or another and do not wish to repeat the experience.

Quite a large number of people are allergic to bee and wasp stings, and a single sting can mean a serious, even life threatening, anaphylactic reaction. Understandably, the presence of one of these stinging insects can cause panic and most people who are allergic will go to very extreme lengths to avoid a sting.

Thousands of people also suffer from a phobia of bees and/or wasps. Just the sound of a bee or wasp buzzing about can be enough to trigger a fearful reaction in those who have a phobia of them, making summer a time of torment rather than tranquillity.

With thousands of cars on the roads in the summer heat, it is inevitable that some insects like bees and wasps are going to fly into vehicles. When they do, it is extremely distracting for the driver, especially if they are allergic to stings or have a phobia of them. Most motorists have experienced a wasp or bee in the car at some point, and know that it can be very hard to maintain concentration on the road until the offending insect is safely out of the vehicle.

It can also be very difficult to keep your composure and not divert your attention to what is going on inside the car if you have a passenger who is scared of bees or wasps. It is a difficult situation to manage, as there is little that you can do except wind down the windows, open the sunroof and hope that the insect will find its way out soon.

It is not known how many accidents occur as a result of the driver being distracted by an insect in the car, but most motor insurance companies will attest to the fact that some do happen. Sadly, sometimes the consequences of an accident are worse than a lost cheap car insurance premium, and have serious implications for not only the driver, but other road users nearby.

So how can these accidents be prevented in the future? Unfortunately, insects are part of summer and, unlike other distractions such as hand-held mobile phones, are impossible to legislate against. It can only be left up to drivers to try to keep their calm when they get a bee or wasp in the car.

 

 

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