When you have a cold or a full-blown flu, it’s not just a constant runny nose that gets on your nerves. Fatigue, lack of concentration, and impaired perception cause some people to become drunk and limit their ability to drive.
Even early symptoms can be dangerous. Once you sneeze hard, you smack the back of the guy in front. Because when you sneeze, people instinctively close their eyes – for about a second. This means blind flight of approximately 14 meters at 50 km/h or 30 meters at 100 km/h.
false security
But not only the cold itself, but also the drugs taken against it can have a devastating effect – whether you prescribe it yourself or prescribed by a doctor. Combination preparations that specifically target all cold symptoms contain a real cocktail of active ingredients. Ephedrine, codeine, and caffeine alert you at first, but once the effect wears off, you fall into a deep trough of concentration. In addition, as a side effect, they often limit the ability to concentrate and react.
The Accident Prevention Advisory Center (bfu) reminds us that around 150 people are seriously injured or killed in accidents related to the consumption of drugs or drugs on Swiss roads each year. And flu drugs are just a small part of the nearly 3,500 drugs that limit the ability to drive in Switzerland.
Solution
If you have a cold, it is best to leave the car at home. And if absolutely necessary: Before getting in the car, check the package insert for any medication or ask the doctor and park the car immediately at the first sign of side effects.