Drivers have been warned against taking some common cold and flu medication, as it could result in a prison sentence. Many motorists are unaware of the laws surrounding over-the-counter medication used to treat cold and flu symptoms are included in drug-driving laws due to the side effects they can cause.
Some of the potential side effects from medications include drowsiness, dizziness and blurred vision – all of which slow reaction times. It’s important that drivers avoid getting behind the wheel after taking medication until they feel fully alert. In UK law, it is illegal to drive if you have certain levels of drugs in your blood, even if they have not affected your driving.
Medicines containing certain ingredients are not safe for driving in the UK because they can cause drowsiness or dizziness. These include antihistamines, opioids like codeine, dextromethorphan and phenylephrine.
Those found driving dangerously under the influence of medication could be handed an unlimited fine, a one-year driving ban, and six months in prison.
For 11 years afterwards, drivers will also have the conviction displayed on their licences, making it tricky to find an insurance provider and travel abroad.
The NHS strongly advises those who take medications which are prone to drowsiness to avoid driving and operating machinery, so it’s important to check the labels and understand the side effects.
Greg Wilson, Founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk said: “You might not think that taking cold and flu tablets could lead to a criminal conviction, but in actual fact, many common over-the-counter drugs have ingredients that could potentially make you drowsy.
“If you’re unwell, it’s imperative to check that what you are taking won’t cause drowsiness or dizziness or any side effects that could impair your ability to drive such as blurred vision or slow reaction times.
“We all feel like we don’t have time to be sick sometimes, lives are just too hectic but driving in an impaired state is very serious, meaning the penalties for doing so can be life changing. Even if you are used to taking the medication in question and it hasn’t previously affected your driving, if you get stopped by police or you’re involved in an incident and your medication has a warning not to operate heavy machinery, you may still be charged.”
He added: “The safest thing to do is avoid driving, rest up and not take the risk.”