Why is it better not to drive during a cold? Three Important Reasons [WE EXPLAIN]

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«Have you caught a cold? Do not eat!”. This should be one of the principles of a responsible driver. It turns out that a seemingly banal cold can lead to dire consequences. Why is it better not to drive a car during a cold? Learn about three important reasons and one very interesting study.

1. Cold symptoms (headache, muscle pain, joint pain, breakdown, irritability) worsen the well-being and thus the speed of reaction
2. Sleeplessness, which often accompanies illness, is as dangerous when driving as alcohol – the risk of making a mistake increases
3. Cold medications can interfere with driving
4. You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page

Everyone knows, or at least they should, that we do not drive after drinking alcohol. Most people are also aware of the risk that a driver with diabetes or epilepsy can pose when they feel unwell. But what are the reasons for resigning from driving a car during a common cold?

Colds and the ability to drive – research

A few years ago, the BBC reported on an interesting study. One hundred drivers took part in it – 50 were healthy, others struggled with various ailments, including headaches and colds. Participants were subjected to a threat simulation. As it turned out? Drivers with a cold fell by an average of 11 percent. worse (the braking distance was longer), which – as the BBC wrote – “corresponded to the double whiskey effect”.

The conclusion from the study is clear: a cold can affect your ability to drive. “I would advise drivers suffering from these conditions to avoid driving until their condition improves,” warned doctor Dr. Dawn Harper on the BBC.

Why are we worse drivers when we have a cold? Here are the top three reasons.

Malaise during illness increases the risk of an accident

The common cold is a mild viral disease that usually lasts seven to 10 days. Symptoms usually appear suddenly and violently. Our head, muscles and joints start to hurt, we feel broken, apathetic and irritable. We are often tired of coughing and a stuffy nose, and some may have phobia. Overall, we feel terrible.

The symptoms mentioned above worsen not only our well-being. They also weaken concentration, reflexes, and the ability to observe the surroundings – skills necessary while driving a car.

Moreover, even simply sneezing while driving can be risky. Why? When we sneeze, we automatically close our eyes, so we automatically lose control over what is happening on the road. The risk of a road accident is increasing …

Lack of sleep is dangerous behind the wheel like alcohol

Rarely does anyone sleep well during a cold. Unpleasant ailments effectively counteract night rest. Meanwhile, experts estimate that sleep is as dangerous behind the wheel as alcohol.

This was shown by the analyzes of the circumstances of road accidents in the USA in 2005-2007. The research covered a total of 6,8 thousand. perpetrators of road accidents. When examining the circumstances of these events, drivers were questioned in detail, inter alia, how many hours they slept in the last XNUMX hours.

The conclusions were clear: the risk of making a driving error was found to be higher when a driver had recently slept for less than seven hours. Those who slept less than four hours were the most affected. In their case, the fatigue was so high that the risk of an accident was the same as when driving under the influence of alcohol containing 0,12 g / dl (1 per mille equals 100 mg of alcohol in 1 deciliter of blood – that is, one tenth of a liter). ).

Are you taking medication? You better not go

The third reason why it is better not to drive when you have a cold is the medication you are taking. While we are aware that tranquilizers or antidepressants can actually interfere with driving, we are unlikely to combine such an effect with medications that help us during an ordinary infection.

«Not everyone is aware that over-the-counter painkillers or cough suppressants can also affect driving ability. One of them is, for example, codeine, which is one of the medications chosen by patients for a dry and tiring cough. It can cause drowsiness, but also excessive agitation, which have a negative impact on concentration »- warns pharmacist Marianna Krajewska on the website jajpolek.pl.

The specialist also draws attention to preparations containing e.g. pseudoephedrine. “Side effects of this type of preparations may be increased blood pressure and associated headaches with possible visual disturbances” – he says. Redness-reducing eye drops can also weaken psychomotor skills. «Some preparations contain tetryzoline hydrochloride, which constricts the vessels and soothes inflammation. Unfortunately, it may cause irritation and lacrimation in some patients, and consequently visual disturbances »- he emphasizes.

Considering the above, let’s remember: before you sit down behind the proverbial circle, read the leaflet attached to the drug you are taking or consult a pharmacist. However, it is best to give up driving when you have a cold, for the sake of yourself and others.

– You need a common sense approach (…) People have to be honest with each other about their ability to drive safely – said Duncan Vernon, who works on road safety, on the BBC.

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