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Your Rx for Driving: Learn More About How to Drive Safely & Avoid Auto Insurance Claims
Because we’re in the auto insurance business, we’re clearly interested in educating people to
drive safely. Though you probably know that drinking and the use of illicit drugs don't mix
with driving, you may not realize that several categories of prescription and over-the-counter
medications can affect your driving ability more than if you had consumed alcohol.
Find out which medications may affect you and get your Rx for safe driving, medication use,
and keeping auto insurance rates low.
Sneezy? Grumpy? Dopey?
During cold and allergy seasons, many people turn to prescription and
over-the-counter remedies to alleviate common symptoms. In some individuals,
even over-the-counter cold and allergy remedies can reduce driving ability by
causing drowsiness and impairing motor skills.
Recent studies have shown that certain prescription medications used to fight common
allergy symptoms may impair driving far worse than alcohol. Users of these medications
are often aware of related drowsiness, but may not be able to appropriately judge that
their motor skills are substantially impaired, which in turn can lead to serious accidents.
Apart from the obvious need to avoid injuring themselves and others, serious accidents can
also result in higher auto insurance rates.
Many other medications may also impair driving, with side effects ranging from
drowsiness or dizziness to diminished motor or judgment skills:
- Pain relievers with codeine
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Drugs used to treat high blood pressure
- Herbal remedies which interact with prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- Central nervous system stimulants
- Sedatives and tranquilizers
- Anticonvulsants
Eye drops used to treat glaucoma, as well as other medications administered to the eye,
may produce heightened light sensitivity, making it extremely difficult to view others'
headlights or even focus on the road ahead.
Precautions You Can Take
Of course, not all medications affect people in the same way; everyone is different.
That’s why you should be particularly cautious when trying any new medicine. Carefully
note its effects on you, not only for driving and auto insurance reasons, but also for
your general health.
Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any new medication prescribed to you and
its interaction with over-the-counter or herbal remedies you may also be taking.
Specifically ask your doctor and pharmacist about a medication's impact on your ability
to drive.
When you get new medication, read the warnings that come with it. If the information
lists any of the following symptoms, be particularly cautious when you decide to drive.
Any medication with the following side-effects could cause you driving difficulties:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Light sensitivity
- Impaired motor skills
- Impaired judgment
Remember, you don't have to stop taking most medications to drive or stop driving
to take most medications. Awareness of potential problems is one of the most important
steps in staying safe on the road and avoiding auto insurance rate increases when you’re
using any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medication.
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