Do you welcome in the summer months with a sneeze? If you suffer with hay fever, bear in mind that taking medication could mean you risk prosecution or even a driving ban. You have been warned.
The same traffic laws apply to over-the-counter drugs as illegal substances. If your driving is impaired by the hay fever medicine, you could end up with a criminal record. Ann there’s the risk of causing an accident, too.
Neil Worth, road safety officer at GEM Motoring Assist, explained: “Some medicines, including those used to treat hay fever, can have an effect on your ability to drive safely. They could make you tired, dizzy or groggy, and they can compromise your vision and reaction time.
“That’s why it’s so important to check with your GP or pharmacist, and to read any warnings on the labels of the medicines you plan to take.
Here’s a quick safety checklist for drivers who take hay fever medicine:
A study by Confused.com found 58 percent of drivers who suffer from hay fever said they had driven a car shortly after taking medication, even though many remedies can impair performance behind the wheel. A worrying 10 percent said they had noticed adverse effects of taking prescription drugs.
It is illegal to drive if you’re unfit to do so because you’ve taken legal or illegal drugs, or you have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood.
Legal medication is covered by the same drug-driving laws as substances such as cocaine and cannabis. Drivers are advised to consult the government website for a list of prescription medicines affected by the legislation.
Richard Gladman, head of driving and riding standards at IAM RoadSmart, warned: “If you are stopped by the police after taking a hay fever remedy and driving whilst impaired you could find yourself falling foul of drug driving regulations.
“Be sure to check the medication thoroughly and see if it is suitable. But most importantly, concentrate on your route to recovery so you can get back onto the road sooner rather than later.”
IAM RoadSmart has the following advice for hay fever sufferers:
If in doubt, talk to your pharmacist and always read the label when taking medicines.
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