Drivers sneezing at wheel hit with £2,500 fines for ignoring solution this summer
You could also get three points on your licence for ignoring the fix to the summer problem
Drivers who sneeze at the wheel this summer could be hit with fines of up to £2,500 and get points on their licence too.
Hay fever season has been a bit delayed this year thanks to the miserably wet and cold May but with sunshine and talk of heatwaves around the corner, it won’t be long until drivers are breaking out the antihistamines for long journeys.
But whether it’s pollen or just a bug, sneezing could land you in trouble with the law.
According to driving expert Amy Josling from car dealers Harwoods, which studied the effects of sneezing at the wheel, the seemingly innocuous reaction could land you a fine of anywhere between £100 and £2,500.
Harwoods measured the distance your car travels during the average sneeze and found surprising results.
At motorway speed - 70mph - your car moves four car lengths while your eyes are closed during a sneeze, which is plenty enough to cause some serious problems. With a sneezing fit, ie multiple in a row, this rises to seven car lengths.
Amy said: “Any driver who is found guilty of careless driving, also known as driving without due care and attention could face on the spot £100 fines and three penalty points. You can also face fines up to £2,500 and even disqualification from driving in more serious incidents.
“Careless driving covers a number of offences, from showing poor lane discipline on the motorway to swerving while changing the radio station. Sneezing while driving could fall under this category as drivers will have their eyes closed for a period of time and others might even take their hands off the steering wheel to cover their mouths or blow their nose which can result in an accident.”
The best way to counter the issue on the spot is by pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth, which could help you stop sneezing. Doing this for 5-10 seconds until the urge to sneeze goes away works for some people.
Ignoring that solution, or other remedies like using hay fever medication, and then getting into trouble as a result, really could land you a fine.
