With hay fever season in full swing, drivers in Mayo are being warned about the potential road safety danger posed by sneezing bouts behind the wheel and drowsiness caused by medications.
Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council, outlined how a recent survey in the UK revealed 70 per cent of drivers suffer the effects of hay fever and the season is reaching its peak this month.
“For drivers, hay fever is much more than an inconvenience,” he warned. “If you suffer badly, you probably shouldn’t drive.
“A sneezing fit can be dangerous on the road and hay fever drugs can also be risky.
“Most medicine packaging doesn’t stress enough how driving may be impaired, so it is every motorist’s duty to check before they start taking medication that it is safe and, if it isn’t, there are often alternative medicines which won’t impair driving.”
Mr Gibbons said driving while using some medications could amount to breaking the law.
“Hay fever, cold and flu treatments, pain killers, antihistamines, and even some eye drops, can all affect the central nervous system in a way that causes drowsiness, reducing the ability to concentrate on driving. Not only that, but driving under the influence of drugs, even those prescribed by a doctor, is a serious criminal offence,” he added.
