Shocking footage released by police has highlighted the risks associated with driving while on cold and flu medication.
Police pulled over a 64-year-old B-double truck driver on the Hume Highway in New South Wales as she was travelling to Sydney.
The footage shows the woman struggling to stay alert and requiring help from police to exit the truck before they initiate a breath analysis test.
Shocking footage released by police has highlighted the risks associated with driving while on cold and flu medication as a truck driver was pulled over on the Hume Highway (pictured)
The footage shows the woman struggling to stay alert and requiring help from police to exit the truck before they initiate a breath analysis test
As the woman waits for the results she needs to lean against her truck for stability and seems to doze off while standing. She also continues to sway and at one point looks like she may vomit.
Despite appearances suggesting otherwise, the woman was not drunk, returning a blood alcohol level of zero. However, she was on cold and flu medication.
Police were seen transporting the woman from the roadside, leaving her truck to be picked up at a later and safer time.
9 News spoke to Southern Highlands police Inspector John Klepzarek and pharmacist Asim Iqbal about the dangers associated with driving while affected by the drug.
Despite slurring and having to be helped from the truck, the woman was not drunk – but she was on cold and flu medication
‘This could have resulted in tragedy or something quite serious, whilst it isn’t alcohol or illegal drugs some of these other drugs can affect you just as badly,’ Inspector Klepzarek said.
Mr Iqbal said he warns all customers about the risks associated with driving while taking cold and flu medications.
‘Some of those ingredients can affect your ability to drive and your ability to react to certain situations,’ he said.
A Queensland University of Technology study also looked into the dangers of driving while under the influence of cold and flu medication.
‘The use of drugs that affect mood, cognition and psychomotor functioning can directly or indirectly potentially impair driving ability,’ the study reads.
QUT study states that some medications impair driving by causing drowsiness, slowing reaction time and affecting mental concentration
‘Many over-the-counter and prescription medications, such as some cough, cold and flu day and night formulas, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories….can potentially impair driving.’
The study states that some of these medications impair driving by causing drowsiness, slowing reaction time, affecting mental concentration, shakiness or unsteadiness and affecting coordination.
Some of the factors which cause varied reactions to the drugs include the speed of metabolism, the time and strength of the dose taken and what the drug might have mixed with which was already in the system.
‘Researchers and health professionals have called for improvements to medication classification and warning systems to improve user awareness and knowledge of the effects of classes of medications on driving performance, assist appropriate medication choices and underpin legislation,’ the study states.
‘Australian research suggests there may be potential to improve Australian medication warning and labelling systems to meet consumer needs.
‘And improve driver awareness, attitudes and compliance with medication warnings.’
Motorists have been charged with culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm in the past for driving while affected by cold and flu medication.
‘If your medicine affects your driving, stop driving, not your medication the study suggests.
‘Make arrangements for alternative transport while you are taking the medication.’