Driving with a cold could see motorists being hit with hefty £2500 fine
After weeks of torrential weather and plummeting temperatures, cold and flu season is in full force across Scotland.
Extra care should be taken when driving your vehicle if you are not feeling very well because getting into an accident, could see you receiving a hefty fine.
New research has revealed that many drivers do not feel that there is any need for concern if they have a headache, cold or cough when they get behind the wheel. However, it has been shown that this can significantly impact your concentration and driving ability.
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Car manufacturer Western Toyota shared evidence from Scrap Car Comparison that revealed as many as a fifth of motorists said they would be happy to drive whilst feeling unwell.
Sneezing actually causes your eyes to temporarily close, and this can be fatal if you are travelling at speed. The problems caused would be cited by the police as driving without due care and attention. Under the rules of the law, this can see you issued with a fine totalling £2500, and your driving license can receive anything from 3 to 9 penalty points. For new drivers, this could mean having to reset your test before you can return to the road.
Other health concerns that drivers normally are happy to drive with, but that could fall into the same category of punishment, include runny noses and tiredness.
The risk of having an accident while trying to wipe your nose and therefore driving with one hand or having a lapse in concentration, because you are too tired to focus are all very possible and real dangers.
Commenting on the findings, the managing director of Scrap Car Comparison, Dan Gick, said, “Driving while feeling ill can put you at increased risk of having an accident and landing yourself in trouble with the law, so the best advice is to stay at home if you feel any of these symptoms, or if you are taking any medication that could impact your driving ability.
"However, we know that it's not always that easy, especially if symptoms start whilst you're already driving. If you start feeling unwell while driving, try to pull over at the earliest possible point when safe to do so. This can be a service station if you're on a motorway, safely on the side of the road, or somewhere such as a car park. Once you've parked safely, take some time away from driving, get some fresh air and give yourself time to relax and reassess how you’re feeling.”
It is not just medical conditions themselves that can cause drivers to become a higher accident risk, but also some medication that drivers take can also affect their ability.
We reported earlier this month that motorists with certain medical conditions could be told to 'stop driving' by the DVLA.
Officials reportedly have the authority to advise drivers on "strong medications" to not get behind the wheel. According to Greg Wilson, founder of car insurance experts Quotezone.co.uk, the affected individuals, specifically those taking prescribed opioid painkillers, tranquillisers and "certain antidepressants", could face the risk of losing their driving licences.
This is because those taking these meds could cause 'drowsiness' and affect driving abilities.
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