According to one study, untreated hay fever has the same driving effect as two or three drinks of alcohol.
“When we sneeze, we close our eyes for a brief moment. This reflex mechanism is impossible to avoid, and can ‘blind’ the driver on average for 3 seconds, thus preventing him from seeing the road and from reacting over a distance of approximately 100 meters at 120 km/h”, underlines the AWSR. In addition, hay fever disrupts sleep and can increase the risk of drowsiness while driving.
In addition, prescribed antihistamines can also cause drowsiness, dizziness and inattention, effects that can increase the risk of an accident.
According to the AWSR, in Wallonia, one in five drivers say they have taken the wheel “at least once during the year after having consumed antihistamines or medicines against the flu or cold”, while the risk of accident is five times higher under the influence of medication.
Before setting off, the Agency advises those concerned to find out about the effects of medical treatment, to have the vehicle’s pollen filter changed regularly and to ask, when the vehicle is serviced, to clean the circuit air conditioning and ventilation of the passenger compartment, or to vacuum the vehicle regularly.
It is also better to keep the car windows closed, wear glasses and avoid parking spaces with high concentrations of pollen.
In Belgium, it is estimated that one person in six suffers from hay fever.