Biorhythm, a theory that supports to identify periods of increased individual susceptibility to accident of misfortune on the basis of recurring biological cycles, is currently enjoying world-wide popularity. In view of the implications of such a theory for both public health and safety, the present study was undertaken as an empirical test of its validity. Using data from 205 carefully investigated highway crashes (135 fatal: 70 nonfatal) in which the drivers were clearly at fault the authors computed specific points in drivers' biorhythm cycles at which the accident occurred. the observed frequencies of accidents occurring during so-called critical and minus periods, were then compared with the frequencies to be expected on a chance basis alone. The results provided no evidence for a relationship between supported biorhythm cycles and accident likelihood.
Abstract