Danger of drivers being caught cold

Motorists afflicted by a heavy cold or flu suffer a major loss of concentration when behind the wheel, putting themselves and other road users at risk, new research shows.

Safety experts found a dramatic increase in poor driving when victims of a cold were subjected to scientific tests.

Reactions times dropped sharply and sudden braking became much more frequent, as the motorist was less aware of surrounding traffic, while cornering also became erratic. Driving ability was estimated to drop by over 50%, the study found.

This is the equivalent of downing over four double whiskies.*

Insurance company Young Marmalade who carried out the research in association with Halfords said a participant who had an "excellent" driving rating of 95% when healthy dropped to 60% when suffering from a cold.

At this level an insurance company would expect the victim to be involved in an accident.

Young Marmalade said the trail provided a warning for motorists not to drive with heavy colds or flu.

"In the case of this one particular driver this was totally out of character and we arranged for someone to take him home. We would advise a common sense approach. A heavy cold can impair a driver's mood, concentration and judgement, if you don't feel well don't drive," said Nigel Lacy, Young Marmalade.

The experiment was carried out using a black "telematics" box, which records driver's speed, braking, and cornering.

While there are no official figures for accidents caused by sneezing and cold and flu symptoms, the insurance industry suspect motorists are responsible for a thousands of prangs when they are under the weather.

The finding back up work done by Cardiff University Common Cold Unit** which showed that that those suffering from colds and flu suffered from poor reaction times and alertness, putting them at risk of being involved in an accident. They were a third more likely to hit the roadside kerb.

Halfords Winter Driving Expert Mark Dolphin said: "We want our customers to stay safe. You shouldn't drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else to take you and avoid driving.

"Other drivers should be aware of those around them and if they see someone sneezing be prepared for the unexpected to happen and increase the distance between vehicles."

Duncan Vernon, road safety manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents added: "If you are not well enough to undertake a journey, it could be dangerous for yourself and other road users".

Severe bouts of common conditions, such as colds, flu, migraine, stomach upsets, infections and hay fever, can affect a driver's ability to drive safely. People need to be honest with themselves about their ability to drive safely.

Added to this Police warn that driver's getting behind the wheel while suffering from a heavy cold could be prosecuted.

PC Steve Rounds, of the Central Motorway Police Group said: "Sneezing can be very violent, especially with a severe cold and causes the sufferer to close their eyes temporarily".

"Commencing a journey in such a state would certainly be irresponsible and could be held as an aggravating factor in any accident that lead to a death or serious injury, turning a careless act into a dangerous one and thereby exposing the driver to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving."

Police also warn that some over the counter medications can cause drowsiness and hamper driving ability.

If a person is rendered unfit to drive because they have taken medication, then they commit the same offence as if they had taken illegal drugs such as cocaine.

Notes:

The law states that the use of ANY drug by a driver that affects their ability to drive is an offence of driving a vehicle on a road whilst unfit through drugs contrary to section 4(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

If a person is rendered unfit to drive because they have taken aspirin or paracetamol or some other everyday drug, then they commit the same offence as if they had taken cannabis or cocaine etc.

Insurance studies say that drinking a double measure spirits decreases reaction time by 11% times would add 1m (3.3ft) to stopping distance if travelling at 30mph (48km/h) - on top of a normal distance of 12m (40ft).

**Cardiff University "Effects of Common Cold on Simulated Driving" Prof Alan Smith