The hayfever season is upon us and drivers could be putting themselves and other motorists at risk by driving under the influence of hayfever and allergy medication according to new research out today.
Safe driver experts, Privilege Insurance have found that one in seven drivers suffer from hayfever or other allergies, and almost half of these have driven on the roads whilst taking medication and nearly a fifth admit their driving had been negatively affected as a result during the past 12 months.
One in ten, the equivalent of 3.3 million drivers, lost concentration at the wheel due to an impaired reaction caused by illness or medication.
Despite the side effects, such as drowsiness, that everyday medicines including hayfever remedies can have, a quarter of drivers admitted to rarely or never checking the side effects of their remedies before setting off, and just under a quarter of drivers believed there was nothing wrong with driving while on any hayfever or allergy medication.
But, conversely, eight in ten drivers would amend their behaviour if they discovered a hayfever medicine they were about to take might affect their driving, with a third holding off taking the medicine until after having driven, and a quarter not driving at all.
I remember being told if you are going to go through an amber light, pretend to sneeze as then you won’t get caught by the police.
Those were the days.
Jackie Violet FemaleFirst