Study highlights hay fever danger to drivers

The number of road accidents caused by hay fever sufferers is not to be sneezed at, according to figures out today.

As many as 7 per cent of motorists had have an accident, a near miss or temporarily lost control of their car while sneezing at the wheel, a survey by insurance company esure found.

Accidents can sometimes be caused by drivers being distracted by passengers sneezing, the company added.

The survey revealed that 72 per cent of motorists can be affected by hay fever symptoms, with a fifth of these taking their hands off the wheel when sneezing and half closing their eyes while having a sneezing fit.

Dust on the dashboard, perfume and in-car air fresheners can trigger hay fever as well as pollen, said esure.

The survey found that Londoners sneezed while driving the least, with motorists in south east England suffering the most from hay fever at the wheel.

Professor Brian Lipworth, professor of allergy and respiratory medicine at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, said: "Hay fever sufferers can sneeze up to 50 times per day when they are affected by it - meaning that it's not unlikely for a sneezing fit to happen while driving.

"When you think that sneezing once while driving at 70mph could mean travelling almost 300ft with your eyes closed, it's clear that this is a very dangerous issue that could potentially lead to a fatal accident."

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure, said: "The start of the hay fever season is upon us and it's crucial for drivers to prepare for its highly distracting and potentially dangerous symptoms.

"Keep tissues at hand in the car, check the pollen count on the weather forecast and do not set out on a car journey if conditions are particularly severe."