Motorists hazy over drug driving rules
Almost four out of 10 motorists don’t know prescribed and over-the-counter medicines could lead to a drug driving test fail.
October’s Startline Used Car Tracker found 70% think more should be done to make motorists aware of the hazards of common medications such as co-codamol, antihistamines, and cough and cold remedies.
Almost a quarter (24%) believe these medicines can be as dangerous when driving as illegal recreational drugs, 22% know people who take these medicines and drive, and 19% say they have themselves taken a treatment and driven.
Worryingly, six per cent admit they have felt drowsy behind the wheel after taking one of these medicines.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “It’s clearly a concern that four out of 10 drivers don’t know they could take perfectly legal medicines for conditions as common as colds and hay fever, and be affected to the extent they could fail a drug-driving test.
“Our research shows one in five people have taken these medicines and driven, and one in 20 have taken them and felt drowsy behind the wheel. This all supports the argument that more needs to be done to inform motorists about the dangers of drug-driving about prescribed and over-the-counter treatments.”
