Hay fever meds leading to ‘drowsy drivers’

With the hay fever season upon us, new research released today shows that thousands of motorists who suffer from hay fever are taking medication to ease their symptoms but failing to read the labels on their allergy medicines - despite many remedies causing drowsiness that could affect driving ability.

According to the research by esure car insurance, approximately 11 million motorists (33 per cent) suffer from hay fever, which can cause distracting symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes, blocked or runny noses and frequent sneezing.

With driver fatigue accounting for up to 20 per cent of serious accidents on motorways and monotonous roads in Great Britain, it is alarming that of those drivers who experience hay fever, 14 per cent drive after taking medications such as antihistamines, with a worrying three per cent of those not checking the labels of their hay fever medicines for drowsiness warnings. This could mean that many motorists are taking increased risks when getting behind the wheel without even realising it.

Dr Robert Boyle, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Allergy at Imperial College London, said: "Hay fever on its own increases daytime drowsiness, and this can be exacerbated by using sedating medications such as the older antihistamines which have been shown to impair driving performance. Motorists with hay fever should be careful to avoid taking sedating medications before driving - their pharmacist or doctor can recommend a safe alternative medication."

An estimated 1.2 million motorists (11 per cent) who suffer from hay fever find they regularly sneeze whilst driving. And worryingly, in excess of two million(5) UK motorists (7 per cent) may have had an accident, near miss, or momentarily lost control of their car as a result of sneezing while driving.

More than 20 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever symptoms and of those polled 21 per cent of motorists that suffer from hay fever take their hands off the wheel as a result of frequent sneezing.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure car insurance, said: "It is a cause for concern that so many hay fever sufferers get behind the wheel without checking their allergy medication before getting into the driving seat. Medication designed to relieve symptoms could cause drowsiness - and a tired driver could easily have or cause a road accident.

"esure advises all motorists and hay fever sufferers to read and carefully check the label of their medication to ensure it is non-drowsy before getting behind the wheel."

Regional Differences
Drivers in the North East experience particularly severe hay fever symptoms, with 15 per cent of those polled saying they have hay fever and regularly sneeze while driving. Scottish motorists suffer the least - just 6 per cent say they have hay fever and regularly sneeze behind the wheel.

And six per cent of Yorkshire motorists questioned admit that they suffer from hay fever but do not check the side-effects of the medication they take to see whether it is non-drowsy or not.

Gender Divide
Men are more careless when it comes to checking hay fever medication labels - twice the number of male drivers (4 per cent) asked said they suffer from hay fever and don't read the labels of medication compared to female motorists (2 per cent). However, more female drivers who have hay fever take medication for their symptoms and then drive (15 per cent) compared to 13 per cent of male motorists.

esure has put together some top tips to help reduce in-car sneezing:

- Always ensure any medication you take is non-drowsy before getting behind the wheel
- Pollution exacerbates hay fever and as pollen grains become attached to particles from car exhausts, they increase their allergy-inducing effect - so keep windows closed when driving
- When possible, avoid going outdoors in the early evening when the pollen count is usually at its highest
- Wear wrap-around sunglasses or glasses when outdoors and when behind the wheel
- Check your vehicle's ventilation system to ensure a clean air flow
- Make sure your air-conditioning system is checked annually - it can help to keep dust, moisture and pollen to a minimum
- Vacuum your car regularly - especially in the summer months - and ensure that all surfaces are cleaned with a damp cloth
- Non-sedative antihistamine tablets and nasal steroid sprays can be taken regularly, starting at least two weeks before hay fever seasons start
- Don't allow pets to travel in the car as exposure to allergens, such as animal hairs and house dust mites, can exacerbate hay fever.