The UK is braced for a particularly bad hay fever season - and THIS is why motorists who suffer with allergies need to take precautions.
This week road safety group GEM Motoring Assist warned how a ‘heavier-than-usual pollen allergy season’ is expected this year.
That’s due to recent heavy rainfall, which has caused a surge in grass growth across many parts of the country. When grasses flower they release clouds of pollen, spelling misery for hay fever sufferers.
The grass pollen period typically has two major peaks - one in the first two weeks of June and the second early in July.
Sneezing fits, a runny nose, streaming eyes, and uncontrollable coughing all bring risks for anyone behind the wheel, as well as other road users.
And motorists also need to be mindful of the medications they take to keep hay fever at bay, with some medicines causing drowsiness.
GEM chief executive Neil Worth said: “The same road traffic laws apply to therapeutic drugs as to illicit substances, so if your driving is impaired and you cause a collision, you risk prosecution and the loss of your licence.”
You should ask a doctor or pharmacist if a medicine might affect your ability to drive.
Keep an eye on pollen count forecasts, and perhaps use public transport if you suspect your driving might be impaired.
Meanwhile our experts here at Select Car Leasing are also urging drivers to keep on top of their regular car maintenance this summer - because an old and clogged-up vehicle cabin air filter - which costs as little as £10 to replace - might actually be exacerbating your hay fever symptoms.
The cabin filter is one of a number of filters that need replacing on a regular basis, including your oil filter, fuel filter and air filter, the latter of which stops dust and other airborne particles getting into your engine.
The cabin filter works to clean the air that comes into the interior of your car via the air conditioning or regular heating and cooling vents.
It picks up all sorts of nasties before they have a chance to make their way to your respiratory system, including bacteria and fungal spores. And it’s also a godsend when it comes to trapping pollen.
If you don’t replace the filter, then months, perhaps years, worth of pollen can become trapped - before being blasted at the faces of drivers and passengers every time the car is used.
When you lease a car with Select Car Leasing, servicing and maintenance packages can be included in your individual plan - helping to get rid of headaches such as this!
You should also clean the interior of your car regularly to remove traces of pollen or other allergens.
Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects almost 10 million people in England, of all ages. That's almost one in four adults and one in 10 children.
Other symptoms, according to the NHS, include an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears, loss of smell, pain around your temples and forehead, headache, earache and feeling tired.
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