Hayfever medicine may affect driving ability

LONDON (Reuters) - As summer approaches and pollen counts rise, hayfever sufferers who take medication and drive may pose a real threat to road safety, according to a survey.

One in seven drivers is a victim of hayfever or other allergies and nearly half (45 percent) of these use medication and drive under their influence, the Privilege Insurance survey said, adding that 18 percent have noticed the negative impact on their driving.

Anti-allergenic drugs have side effects ranging from drowsiness and blurred vision to nausea and heart palpitations.

Even medication for complaints as common as flu, depression, arthritis and insomnia can be dangerous, the survey said.

"Certain types of drugs or even herbal supplements can affect a person's ability to drive safely and if they are combining several over-the-counter drugs for the treatment of the same ailment, they could be very dangerous on the road," said GP, Dr James Lawrie, who was quoted in the survey.

The YouGov poll of 4,973 people was conducted on behalf of Privilege Insurance last Summer.