Safety impaired by driving under influence – of a cold

Motorists afflicted by a heavy cold or flu suffer a major loss of concentration when behind the wheel, putting themselves and other road users at risk, new research by UK-based Insurance company Young Marmalade shows.

While many of us may have some notion that we are not at our peek behind the wheel when suffering from a cold or flu the extent of the impairment is actually very significant. Safety experts found a dramatic increase in poor driving when victims of a cold were subjected to scientific tests.

Reactions times dropped sharply and sudden braking became much more frequent, as the motorist was less aware of surrounding traffic, while cornering also became erratic. Driving ability was estimated to drop by over 50%, the study found – the equivalent of 4 whiskies.

Insurance company Young Marmalade who carried out the research in association with Halfords said a participant who had an “excellent” driving rating of 95% when healthy dropped to 60% when suffering from a cold. At this level an insurance company would expect the victim to be involved in an accident.

Young Marmalade said the trail provided a warning for motorists not to drive with heavy colds or flu.

“In the case of this one particular driver this was totally out of character and we arranged for someone to take him home. We would advise a common sense approach. A heavy cold can impair a driver’s mood, concentration and judgement, if you don’t feel well don’t drive,” said Nigel Lacy, Young Marmalade.

The experiment was carried out using a black “telematics” box, which records driver’s speed, braking, and cornering. While there are no official figures for accidents caused by sneezing and cold and flu symptoms, the insurance industry suspect motorists are responsible thousands of incidents while “under the weather”.

Halfords Winter Driving Expert Mark Dolphin said: “We want our customers to stay safe. You shouldn’t drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else to take you and avoid driving.

Insurance studies say that drinking a double measure spirits decreases reaction time by 11% times would add 1m (3.3ft) to stopping distance if travelling at 30mph (48km/h) – on top of a normal distance of 12m (40ft).