Drug-driving warning for hay fever sufferers

DRIVERS are being warned that hay fever medication could land them with a drugdriving conviction, as the Met Office say the pollen count is forecast to jump to ‘high’ this weekend.

Having been at ‘medium’ levels throughout the week, the increase in the pollen count, as predicted by the Devon-based Met Office, could see many drivers reaching for medication to deal with its effects.

This has led to a warning from one of the country’s leading car insurance comparison websites that motorists may be risking an inadvertent conviction for ‘driving under the influence’.

Insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk says the Government legislation does not distinguish between illicit drugs, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications – and any type of drug that affects a motorist’s driving abilities could potentially result in a drug-driving conviction, even if it is something as simple as hay fever medication that causes drowsiness.

One in four people in the UK has hay fever; that is approximately 16 million people, according to the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. Grass pollen is arguably the biggest cause of seasonal allergies, affecting approximately 90% of hay fever sufferers – with peak season from mid-May until July.

Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone.co.uk,

said the hay fever season runs for seven months of the year – March to September – depending on the type of pollen people are allergic to, so it can catch drivers off guard.

“Most people assume that the term ‘drug-driving’ refers to driving while under the influence of illicit narcotics, but the truth is that driving after taking any type of drug, could result in a motoring conviction if the motorist’s driving abilities are impaired,” he said. “While some hay fever medications are non-drowsy, some types do cause drowsiness, and some prescription hay fever tablets in particular carry a ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ warning. If a driver fails to obey this warning and gets behind the wheel, they could risk a hefty fine of up to £5,000, points on their licence and endanger themselves and other road users.”

If in doubt about medication effects, hay fever sufferers are advised to not get behind the wheel.