The common cold is far more dangerous than you might think. Many people are unaware that driving under the influence of drugs, even prescribed ones, is a criminal offence which carries the same penalties as drink driving. This winter millions of drivers risk breaking the law by dosing themselves on cough and cold remedies that could make them unsafe on the roads.
The average adult will suffer up to 4 yearly colds, so be careful when you’re stocking up on medicine for the start of the official cold and flu season. Many can cause a level of drowsiness that is the equivalent to being drunk, with slower reaction times and a drop in hazard awareness. Such medicines can include those which relieve allergies, coughs, travel sickness and sleep remedies.
Experts think warnings on packets of cough and cold medicines are often hard to find, and are calling instead for a traffic light scheme to alert users to the potential driving hazards. The traffic light system is already in operation in France, where a set of pictures are used to demonstrate levels of drowsiness in different products. Still, critics say this is not a clear set of warnings.
ITV’s This Morning Doctor, Chris Steele agrees, urging drivers taking medication to check with their doctor or pharmacist before getting behind the wheel. He added that even taking medication at night may not mean it is safe to drive the next morning, as some drugs can take several hours to disappear from the body.
Dr Chris spoke in support of GEM Motoring Assist, who launched an initiative to combat drug driving and increase the safety of Britain’s roads this Christmas. The Chief Executive of the company, David Williams, stated that “too often the warnings on medicine packaging are vague and difficult to find which causes great confusion and can lead to real dangers on our roads”.
A drink driving ban will require the help of a solicitor with experience in motoring offences