Police have warned that driving with severe colds or flu could lead to motorists losing control of their vehicles and facing prosecution for dangerous driving.With the country in the grip of widespread outbreak of flu, doctors warn that symptoms such as severe congestion, coughing and sneezing can have a serious impact on our ability to drive.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
While there are no official figures for accidents caused by sneezing and cold or flu symptoms, university studies using a laboratory simulator showed that drivers who are ill suffered a loss of concentration and had slower reaction times, putting them at risk of being involved in a collision. They were a third more likely to hit the roadside kerb.<o:p></o:p>
Research compiled by car accessory and leisure retailer Halfords shows that 21% of motorists are currently suffering from colds with the most severely affected enduring frequent bouts of sneezing.<o:p></o:p>
As it is impossible to keep your eyes open when sneezing, cars owners are often driving blind. Around 2.4 million (8%) drivers admit to looking away from the road when searching for a tissue.<o:p></o:p>
The danger of driving while feeling unwell can be made worse when combined with medication or feeling tired.<o:p></o:p>
Professor Ronald Eccles from the Cardiff University Common Cold Unit, said: “Colds and flu vary in severity from mild to life threatening and severe colds and flu may affect ability to drive and make it risky. If you are suffering from a mild head cold then driving is probably OK. If you are feverish and feeling ill then do not drive.”<o:p></o:p>
Added to this Police warn that drivers getting behind the wheel while suffering from a heavy cold could be prosecuted.<o:p></o:p>
it is true that you are impaired with a bad cold but the same goes for if you are tired or have the dreaded PMT or a car full of kids or just have taken some medication for whatever reason, it will be the same in summer with so many people on antihistamines,trouble is no one will admit it to themselves!
My mum ( god rest her soul ), always said 3 days getting a cold, 3 days having it, and 3 dayd getting rid of it, i always think of that when i get one....
As marsey said, who thinks these things up? The nanny state has to make hard and fast rules about everything and not leave it to individuals' common sense. I had a flu-like episode a week before Christmas and the last thing I wanted to do was get out of bed let alone drive. Why don't these evangelical 'experts' and self-righteous cops just bog off and leave the rest of us to live our lives as we see fit. [Perhaps this should have gone into the random rant thread.]
I can see the spin doctors at work here The original piece starts off by saying that if you're so sick you can hardly drive, it won't get you off a charge if you have an accident. What's wrong with that? It's always been so. By the time it gets to the end, the story has grown in the telling to the point where it's claimed you might be at risk for even taking the wheel with a snuffle, FFS! Erm, I don't think so, somehow.
Professor Ronald Eccles from the Cardiff University Common Cold Unit, said: “..If you are suffering from a mild head cold then driving is probably OK. If you are feverish and feeling ill then do not drive.”
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p>Thank god for expert advice, heaven forbid anyone ever has to make a common sense judgement!</o:p>
![3 Points for Having a Cold? - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8mobileLQ.jpg)
![3 Points for Having a Cold? - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8desktopLQ.jpg)
