We all know that we shouldn’t drive when we’re tired, or when we’ve been drinking, but we had no idea that hayfever could also be so dangerous to motorists.
However, thanks to new research from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, we’ve now learned that suffering from hayfever can affect driving ability to the same degree as drinking two to three units of alcohol, the legal limit in most European countries.
Hayfever affects around 1 in 5 people in the UK, and the peak of the grass pollen season – the major cause of hayfever, with around 95% of sufferers allergic – is in June and July.
So what makes this condition so dangerous for drivers?
Well, as well as causing itchy or running eyes, runny nose and sneezing – all of which can cause the driver to take their hand off the wheel or other distraction, such as closing their eyes – the allergies can also cause sluggishness or drowsiness.
However there is good news for hayfever sufferers; experts have said that the risks caused by the condition can, in most cases, be quite easily lessened.
How?
Well, using an anti-allergy medication, particularly a drug-free one like HayMax (£5.29 at Holland and Barrett),has been proven to mostly restore the skills of drivers with hayfever.
Were you shocked to learnt hat driving with hay fever is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol?
Let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline) now.