[13of40]

Can't remember where I read it, but I heard a theory a long time back that people freaking out about spiders and insects in their cars could account for a significant number of unexplained car accidents. I wonder if we've ever had an aircraft accident because of that.

[RalfWausE]

Quiet plausible... a long time ago i took my motorcycle out for the first ride after a long pause, as soon as i left the town where i live in and a moment before i would yank the throttle open an ABSOLUTELY GIANT (so perhaps a few milimeter) spider crawled on the inside of my helmets visor. I panicked hard, brought the bike to a screaching halt, yanked the helmet from my head and threw it astaundingly far away into the wheat field where i stood next to.

I was lucky, would this have happen while riding at 250 km/h or knee down in a curve... no, i don't want to think about...

Finding the helmet afterwards was interesting enough...

[whinenot]

I once had a wasp hiding near my center console start stinging my arm as soon as put my arm down as I started driving. Fortunately, I was still in my residential neighborhood so I was able to pull over and jump out of the car without causing an accident but it's easy to imagine the poorer consequences had I been a little further in my journey.

[lacrimacida]

I have unpredictible behavior when spiders or roaches are crawling on me, it’s an automatic reaction I can’t seem to control. Im not really afraid of spiders or roaches so no phobia involved. Once I almost broke my arm, I hit it really hard to a wall to get the thing off.

Is there any hope for me to tame these reactions?

[schiem]

If you're serious about it, the way that I (accidentally) found that works is to keep some spiders and roaches as pets. I used to be the same way, involuntarily flinching whenever a large enough insect would crawl on me until I adjusted to being around them all the time. The roaches and smaller spiders don't trigger any kind of involuntary reflex anymore. I do still flinch when the largest spiders (> 5 inch leg span) move very quickly while I'm doing maintenance but I'm pretty okay with that, especially because one of them could put me in the hospital.

[jacquesm]

> it's easy to imagine the poorer consequences had I been a little further in my journey.

The wasp would have been fine.

Makes you wonder how many cause unknown single vehicle crashes where the driver dies are the result of insects.

[whinenot]

Some people may view this scene[0] as overly dramatic, whereas I think it's perfectly understandable once it happens to you.

[0]https://youtu.be/nJ_pVgV1EZQ?t=216

[camtarn]

I had a wasp fly into my motorbike helmet one time. The visor was down but cracked open slightly to stop it fogging up, and it was just big enough for one unlucky bug. Luckily it didn't sting me and I was able to come to a controlled stop and take the helmet off, but if I'd been in mid-corner and it stung me, it would have been bad news.

[morkalork]

I was cycling with loose shorts once and a bee flew up the leg and stung my upper inner thigh. I'm sure if there was anyone else on the path when that happened, I would've crashed into them.

[smilespray]

Last month, I got a speeding ticket because I was distracted by a mosquito...

[partdavid]

That must have been a fast mosquito!

[smilespray]

Fast and bloodthirsty.

[interestica]

Ever have that feeling of extreme preparation in a car when you feel a sneeze coming on?