BRITS have been warned that a seemingly innocent activity could have deadly consequences when they get behind the wheel.
The RAC said motorists could end up on the wrong side of the law while putting other road users at risk amid the “hidden epidemic.”
The insurance company explained that drivers are unknowingly putting themselves in danger by popping hayfever tablets.
Around 10 million Brits suffer from the condition and many rely on prescription pills to help subdue their symptoms.
But tablets used to treat hayfever can affect your vision, hearing and reaction times – meaning it isn’t safe for you to drive a car.
Shocking research by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart found that many drivers are completely unaware of the impact of the drugs.
However, many over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines or cold and flu remedies come with a warning not to use heavy equipment or machinery.
The survey of 2,000 motorists revealed that only 28 per cent of people would avoid driving after taking hayfever tablets.
As well as this, 30 per cent of drivers don’t know what the maximum dose of a prescription medication is before it will impact their driving.
A further 31 per cent of those surveyed admitted they do not know how long they should wait before driving after taking their medication.
And another 22 per cent of drivers confessed they rarely or never check if their medication will impact their ability to drive safely.
As hayfever medication is not an illicit substance, Brits often believe they can hit the road without it affecting their ability to drive.
However, over-the-counter medication is covered under the same drug-driving law as cocaine and cannabis.
Under UK law, it is an offence for drivers to take any legal or illegal substance that impairs their ability to operate a vehicle.
The offence carries a minimum one-year driving ban and an unlimited fine.
In serious cases, you could be slapped with a prison term and the criminal offence stays on your driving licence for 11 years.
In wake of the worrying research, IAM RoadSmart is calling for a review of the prescription process to educate motorists.
The charity believes the lack of awareness among Brits is behind the spike of drug drivers on UK roads.
Cases of driving with a specified controlled drug above a certain limit have increased year-on-year.
Statistics from the Ministry of Justice’s Criminal Justice System show that there were a whopping 27,962 convictions in 2021.
Antony Kildare, CEO at IAM RoadSmart, said of the study: “When people think of driving while under the influence of drugs, they will probably, quite understandably, think of those who get behind the wheel after taking illicit and recreational substances such as cocaine, cannabis or ecstasy.
“And yet legal drugs that are used for medicinal purposes can often be just as potent, and could profoundly impact a driver’s judgement while behind the wheel.
“However, under the current system, this threat may not be understood – resulting in a lack of awareness of what should be basic considerations, such as maximum dosages or whether the medication will impact their ability to drive.
“We would like to see a new and reformed system which will provide more transparency on how medications can affect a motorist’s ability to drive, and clearly communicate potential risks to motorists.
“We also want drivers to be more aware of how they feel after taking medication for their own safety, so we are urging drivers to be vigilant of any potential symptoms of taking their medication and consider how the side effects could impair their driving.
“This may include drowsiness, light-headedness, shakes and dizziness.”
