Car crashes on legal drugs up by 600%

The number of driving accidents involving people who are under the influence of legal drugs such as hay fever remedies has increased by 600 per cent in the last 10 years, according to figures released yesterday.

The British Allergy Foundation, which launched its Drive Against Drowsiness campaign with the support of motoring organisations yesterday, said the problem threatened to become as life-threatening as drink-driving. But due to a government crackdown, drink-driving accidents have been reduced by two-thirds over the same period.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of taking medication and then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Over the last year, 18 per cent of fatal road traffic accidents were linked to legal drugs, while 20 per cent of drivers are potentially driving "under the influence" of legal drugs.

Antihistamines are often the primary treatment for hay fever and are increasingly prescribed as more people develop the allergy.

Muriel Simmons, chief executive of the British Allergy Foundation, said: "The increase in road traffic accident fatalities linked to drug-driving is extremely worrying. Although people are becoming more aware of the dangers of drowsiness, many are still unaware that there are other options available to them such as non-sedating antihistamines which their GP can prescribe for them."

Professor Ian Hindmarch, of the University of Surrey, said: "Most antihistamines in the marketplace are often misleadingly described as non-sedating ­ but they do cross into the brain and cannot really be non-sedating even if taken at the recommended dose."

Unlike alcohol, there is no legislation restricting intake of legal drugs and driving.