Hay fever and allergies are forcing one in four motorists to drive virtually blind on Britain's roads, a new report has warned.
With pollen at its worst over coming months, sufferers could be driving more than nine million miles with their eyes shut, with a bad bout of sneezing seriously impairing driving, the latest research has shown.
More than one in four drivers -- 27per cent -- suffer from hay fever, with the most severely affected sneezing at least once a minute.
Danger: Hay fever sufferers could be driving more than nine million miles with their eyes shut as a bad bout of sneezing seriously impairs driving
The hay fever season has started early this year because of the unusual weather patterns. But police are warning that drivers getting behind the wheel while suffering from hay fever could be prosecuted.
A study by Halfords also revealed that 10 per cent of drivers suffering from hay fever - which could equate to more than a million motorists - said they have been affected so badly that they have had to stop the car until the sneezing subsided. And, almost a third of drivers who suffer from hay fever admitted they had taken their eyes off the road while searching for tissues.
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The research showed that 25 per cent of drivers who suffer from hay fever think that their ability to drive is affected by their symptoms.
Insurance companies figures estimate more than two million UK motorists have had an accident, near miss, or momentarily lost control of their car as a result of sneezing while driving.
A properly maintained air conditioning system can be a vital first line of defence for hay fever sufferers, according to Halfords Autocentres, as pollen filters can help guard against allergies.
More than one in four drivers suffer from hay fever with the most severely affected sneezing at least once a minuteAround 80 per cent of modern vehicles are now fitted with aircon systems, and to keep them working at their most efficient, pollen filters should be changed every 12 months.
Rory Carlin, Marketing Director at Halfords Autocentres said: 'Efficient air con systems can help screen out the pollen that causes hay fever but less than two per cent of the cars we see have work carried out on their air con, suggesting millions of cars have air con systems that are working inefficiently.
'Motorists need to ensure they are serviced regularly. It's a quick and easy check but it could save a great deal of misery.'
PC Steve Rounds, from the Central Motorway Police Group said: 'Hay fever is an unfortunate condition that can cause violent sneezing and mean the sufferer closes their eyes temporarily. Watering eyes can also affect a driver's vision.
'While I have every sympathy with sufferers, commencing a journey in such a state would certainly be irresponsible and could be held as an aggravating factor in any accident that led to a death or serious injury, turning a careless act into a dangerous one and exposing the driver to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
'Something else to consider with hay fever is the medication taken to combat it. There's the obvious effect of drowsiness and this will be highlighted on the packaging with specific warnings.'
Young motorists are more at risk from hay fever which affects almost one in two drivers aged 18 to 25, compared to 20 per cent of motorists aged 50 and over.
Twice as many people suffer from hay fever today, compared with 20 years ago and some allergy experts predict the number of sufferers could triple over the next two decades.
