Which of the following statements about stress and driving is most accurate?

• A. Stress improves concentration and always leads to safer driving.
• B. High levels of stress can impair your ability to drive safely.
• C. Emotional state only affects driving in professional drivers.
• D. Your ability to drive safely has nothing to do with your emotional state.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of stress and its general effects on cognitive and motor functions. Stress can influence attention, decision-making, and reaction times, which are all critical for safe driving.
2. Step 2: Analyze each statement in the context of psychological research on stress and driving. For example, consider whether stress always improves concentration or if it can sometimes impair it.
3. Step 3: Recognize that while moderate stress might sometimes heighten alertness, high levels of stress typically impair cognitive functions and motor skills, leading to decreased driving safety.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the claim that emotional state only affects professional drivers. Understand that emotional states influence all drivers, regardless of experience level.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the most accurate statement is that high levels of stress can impair your ability to drive safely, as this aligns with psychological evidence on stress and performance.