Bold claim: Driving position may influence where skin cancer appears on the face, not just who you are. And this is the part most people miss: your location behind the wheel could change your sun exposure in subtle, important ways. Here's what new analysis from Addenbrooke's reveals, along with what it could mean for drivers and passengers alike.
Researchers started with a simple premise common in the UK: because cars are right-hand drive, the right side of the face is more exposed to sunlight than the left when you’re driving. The project was conducted by two School of Clinical Medicine students, Emma Guenther and Catharina Tao, under the guidance of consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Animesh Patel.
They examined UK cancer records from 2018–2019, focusing on basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) on the face or scalp, confirmed by biopsy. In total, they looked at 2,908 BCC cases and 832 SCC cases and compared which side of the face was affected.
The results showed a surprising asymmetry: 52% of BCCs occurred on the right-hand side of the face, and 54% of SCCs were also on the right. While the researchers note that the exact causes of this pattern remain unclear, the findings add to a growing body of literature on skin cancer laterality—how the side of the body that gets more sun can influence cancer risk.
Interestingly, studies from other countries where drivers sit on the left-hand side of the car have reported the opposite pattern, supporting the notion that driving position and sun exposure dynamics matter. Patel commented that although the front windshield provides some UV protection for drivers and front-seat passengers, the side windows may offer less shield against UV exposure.
The researchers hope their findings will inform more precise guidance for motorists and their passengers about sun protection and skin cancer risk, and they express a desire for further research to better tailor public health advice in different driving contexts.
