The environment is not the only thing that suffers due to overdependence on a vehicle. The health of the compulsive driver is also put into jeopardy due to lack of exercise and being afraid to make do without a vehicle. Healthcare is one of the most expensive and controversial necessities that every society undertakes, and is important that we are conscious of any way we can reduce our dependence on it. When we are overly dependent on our vehicles, we reduce our own self reliance in the ability to manage our health. It would seem to be a win/win situation to rely on our own muscle power to aid our mobility, but we are strangely resistant to this necessity.

Constantly sitting in a vehicle makes us gain weight and lose muscle mass. When we forego walking or riding a bike for sitting behind the wheel of a car, we are losing much needed physical exercise. Because we are not burning any calories, we begin to pack the weight on. And because we are not doing any physical work, our muscle mass deteriorates as well. It is to our physical benefit to reduce our dependency on our vehicles.

Because of the physical unhealthiness that sets in due to the sedentary lifestyle of driving everywhere, disease also becomes prevalent. Drivers who are overly dependent on their vehicles are at a higher risk of developing diabetes, cancer, heart disease and a number of other complications that are caused by a sedentary lifestyle. This is more proof that the human body was not meant to be behind the wheel of a car all day.

And lastly, it is important to a person’s mental health that they do not need to be overly reliant on a vehicle. Psychological dependence on a vehicle can be just as crippling as physical dependence on a vehicle because it creates a helpless mindset. It has also been found that regular exercise is necessary for good mental health.