Dangers of driving on medication

With one in five people in the UK suffering from hay fever and the season reaching its peak this month, road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is warning drivers about the dangerous effects that medication can have on their ability.

As part of its ongoing campaign to raise awareness, GEM has produced a free leaflet, called Don’t Motor on Meds, to offer advice on driving while taking prescription drugs.

Hay fever, cold and flu treatments, pain killers, antihistamines, and even some eye drops, can all affect the central nervous system in a way that causes drowsiness, reducing the ability to concentrate on driving.

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Not only that, but driving under the influence of drugs, even those prescribed by a doctor, is a serious criminal offence.

The specially-created GEM leaflet details exactly what the risks are and offers useful information for motorists seeking advice.

David Williams, CEO of GEM Motoring Assist, said: “Many motorists don’t realise the effect that prescription or over-the-counter medication can have on their driving. With the hay fever season in full swing, there could be many people breaking the law without realising.

“Most medicine packaging doesn’t stress enough how driving may be impaired, so it is every motorist’s duty to check before they start taking medication that it is safe and, if it isn’t, there are often alternative medicines which won’t impair driving.”

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He added: “With a lack of awareness around drugs and driving, we have designed this leaflet to provide as much useful and relevant information as possible to continue to make our roads a safer place.”

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