Driving with nasty cold or flu symptoms could land you hefty fine, experts warn
If you find yourself feeling poorly and you get behind the wheel, driving experts have explained that you could land yourself with a hefty fine.
January and February see the peak of the cold and flu season and with a new variant of Covid on the rise, it can be difficult to avoid getting sick. With the cold, wet weather continuing across the UK, it’s the perfect breeding ground for viruses to spread, but if you catch a cold, and need to drive somewhere, you could be "breaking the law".
Drivers who get behind the wheel whilst ill risk being handed a hefty fine, a possible driving ban, and jail time. Driving experts at Yell have revealed the fines and dangers you could be facing when driving sick, and how you can stay safe on the roads when you're not feeling your best.
Sneezing
Experts have shared that sneezing behind the wheel is something best avoided, as although it's not an official law, if sneezing is found to be the cause of an accident, drivers can receive a fine of between £100 - £2,500 and three to nine licence points depending on the severity of the accident.
There's a high risk of losing control of the car, impairing your vision, where you could end up travelling around 155ft with your eyes closed, or simply swerving into another lane.
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Medication
Common legal, over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers may seem like a safe option to take before you get in your car, as they're going to perk you up, right? Wrong, in some cases, as they can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision.
If caught, you can be prosecuted for drug driving offences if your driving is deemed to be impaired, even if the drugs taken are completely legal. If convicted, you could face a minimum one-year ban, up to six months in prison and your driving license showing you were convicted of drug-driving for 11 years or even life imprisonment if the accident has caused a death.
Decreased concentration and fatigue
Illness can cause a foggy head, confusion, and fatigue, making it much harder to concentrate on the roads. Although there is no specific offence when driving whilst tired or ill, you are significantly increasing your chances of committing other offences and causing collisions.
If you are convicted of driving while fatigued or from distractions related to illness, you could face dangerous driving charges, an unlimited fine, a driving ban, and up to 14 years in prison - so if you don't feel well, don't drive.
Safety tips if you need to drive
Sometimes, taking a trip is unavoidable, so to minimise risks you should be aware of any medication side effects, and assess your condition to check you can safely drive to your destination, stay hydrated and well-rested, and limit distractions so you can focus.
If your illness or symptoms affect your driving and are something more long-lasting than just a passing illness, you must inform both the DVLA and your insurer. If you fail to do this, it could result in up to a £1,000 fine.
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