Because I'm fond of pointing out counter-cultural perspectives -- the stay-at-home mom myth is one of them -- I think you'll enjoy reading about this study.

By the way, if you're a woman, your luck may be slightly better. When the male researcher donned a long wig while biking, drivers kept a wider distance.

On a less lighthearted note, however, traffic accident statistics are fairly alarming, especially when you consider that, unlike certain diseases, these are preventable deaths. Here are some telling figures:

• Over 1 million people are killed in road traffic accidents around the world each year.
• Figures from the World Health Organization and the World Bank suggest another 50 million people may be left injured by crashes annually.
• In the United States, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 35.

If current trends continue, road traffic injuries could be one of the biggest causes of preventable deaths by 2020 -- third only to heart disease and depression.

The largest number of accidents is caused by drivers looking at other accidents, traffic or roadside incidents. Other distractions, such as cell phone use while driving, are also a common cause. Some 98 percent of accidents are caused by a single distracted driver.

So play it safe; stay alert and attentive on the road, make sure you are well-rested and not driving while overtired, and be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists -- with and without helmets.