Left-Handedness and Life Expectancy

To the Editor: Halpern and Coren have reported a striking reduction in life expectancy associated with left-handedness (April 4 issue).* They state that their results implicate covert neuropathologic features as the cause of increased deaths, rather than left-handedness per se. At least one important cause of excess deaths among left-handers is reported to be related to driving a vehicle. It is not at all apparent that left-hand or right-hand dominance alone would affect driving safety. The authors should consider the possible contribution of left-footedness. Although automobiles are relatively neutral in terms of hand controls, the arrangement of foot pedals is . . .