Bad Moon Rising? (87)

“I see the bad moon rising.

I see trouble on the way.

I see earthquakes and lightnin’

I see bad times today.

Don’t go around tonight,

Well, it’s bound to take your life.

There’s a bad moon on the rise.”

Written by John Foggerty; released April, 1969 by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Do you notice when there is a full moon?  What about when there is a crescent moon?  I don’t pay too much attention to the times of the moon unless I am outside on a full moon night and get totally ‘moonstruck.’ But, I can always tell when there is a full moon by the way people drive.

Although delivery room doctors and nurses and police officers may argue this point, there are all kinds of studies debunking the myths of higher birthrates and higher crime rates during full moons. The one thing that hasn’t been debunked is the increase in auto accidents and incidents. Numerous studies over several decades show there is an increase in auto accidents during two times of the month. One time is the day of and day after a new moon and the other is a several day period before and after the full moon. This makes the full moon period the most dangerous for drivers.

Is this increase in activity because of some atmospheric pull on people or car engines? Or, is the increase during the full moon simply because people are on the roads later at night? Or, maybe because people don’t use their headlights because the moon is so bright? The studies don’t give any conclusion as to why the incidents happen. They only indicate that it does happen.

We are currently two days past the full moon peak and I would suggest you be careful on the roads. Not saying it will ‘take your life,’ but you might end up with a dented fender.

Not me.

I’ll still be sitting on the deck, totally moonstruck.