DRIVE SAFE
The common health mistake drivers make that could put them at risk of having an accident – and being blamed for it
Certain illnesses can make you a worse driver - from flu to colds and stomach bugs
DRIVING can feel like second nature for many, but a common health mistake could put you in danger of having an accident - and you might even be blamed for it.
Getting behind the wheel if you're feeling under the weather can seem like no biggie, especially if you're taking familiar roads and turns.
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But winter bugs running rife at the moment could cloud your focus and reaction time, experts warn.
Even mild cold and flu symptoms could temporarily worsen your driving, with the team at likening their effects to driving under the influence.
This might seem like a far fetched comparison, but being unwell can place your body under stress and cause symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and drowsiness that may make driving hazardous, the car finance website warned.
According to research, being poorly can make your concentration levels nosedive and slow reaction time by about 10 per cent.
Read more on colds and flu
Cold and flu remedies or other medicines you take to ease symptoms may also make you drowsy and impair judgement, experts added.
Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at said: “Flu symptoms such as fatigue and aches and pains can affect your concentration levels, as well as your reactive skills which could put you at risk of an accident.
"The NHS advises that you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.
"You should also be aware of the potential side effects when taking common cold and flu medications.
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"Some people can be at risk of drowsiness and dizziness which can also affect your ability to drive safely."
So when is it safe to drive, from a health point of view?
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"Typically, you should wait until you have had no fever for at least 24 hours and your symptoms are improving before leaving the house," Abbas said.
His warnings echoed a 2012 published to , which tested the impact of a cold on driving ability.
Researchers said: "The slowing of reaction times associated with having a cold is comparable to effects of known hazards, such as consumption of a dose of alcohol that would lead to a ban from driving (80 mg alcohol/100 ml blood)."
It comes as Brits battle a flurry of flu and other winter bugs that have pushed hospitals to breaking point.
Driving while ill isn't a specific offence in Britain, but car.co.uk warned it could put you in hot water.
It said: "In the UK, driving while unfit due to illness or medication can result in serious legal consequences.
"While driving whist ill isn’t a crime by itself, If an accident occurs and it is determined that illness played a role, drivers can face penalties, points on their license, or even prosecution for dangerous driving."
As such, it's important to take stock of your symptoms and look into other transport methods if you really need to leave the house that day.
Which cold and flu remedies actually work?
Sun Health reporter Isabel Shaw put nine well-known cold and flu remedies when she was struck with a lurgy.
Over the course of a week, she tried products targeted at all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.
These included:
- Hot honey and lemon
- Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub
- Echinacea
- Chicken soup
- A spicy curry
- Beechams All in One Oral Solution
- Strepsils
- Lemsip Max
- Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray
She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.
Read her full verdicts here.
"If you're feeling too unwell to drive, consider using public transportation or asking a friend or family member for a ride," experts advised.
Flu and colds aren’t the only illnesses that can pose a risk when driving, according to Veronika Matutyte from .
“Beyond the flu, other illnesses pose risks," she said.
"Gastrointestinal bugs can cause debilitating symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, forcing drivers into dangerous abrupt stops.
"These episodes can occur suddenly, making vehicle control nearly impossible.
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"Then there are medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and pain relievers that can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blurred vision.
"I constantly remind my patients to read labels and understand potential side effects before driving. Ignoring these warnings can be disastrous.”
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