Tuesday 20th April 2004

Hay Fever Worry

Iam warn of sne.. sne... SNEEZING DANGER!

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The Institute of Advanced Motorists is warning drivers prone to hay fever of the danger in sneezing when driving. "Hay fever sufferers at the wheel may post a risk to themselves and other road users" they said today.

If a hay fever sufferer has a bout of eight or nine sneezes when travelling at 70 mph on a motorway, vision could be lost for up to half a mile, and their tie could be ruined too.

Bryan Lunn, IAM Chief Examiner, says that if you don’t suffer from hay fever, remember that the driver in front or behind you may be one of the UK's estimated ten million hay fever suffers about to have a bout of sneezing and go "blind " for some considerable distance.

“If you feel a bout of sneezing coming on when you’re driving, slow down - not forgetting to check the mirrors and give a signal if one would be beneficial to other road users. Try pressing hard between your upper lip and nose with your finger."

“That usually delays the sneezing or stops it altogether but keep a box of tissues handy on the passenger seat if you’re alone in the car, just in case. If there is someone with you, get him or her to hand you a couple of tissues when you feel a bout of sneezing coming on .”

Link : www.iam.org.uk

[veewhy]

Handy tip about pressing your top lip and nose together, I suffer (quite badly) from hay fever and can verify that the claim of 8/9 successive sneezes and 'loss of vision for up to 1/2 mile is not an exaggeration.

[avocet]

So to see what it's like, we need a group of volunteers to get on the motorway doing 70 and all close their eyes for half a mile!

Sorry, the world's gone mad. I get hayfever - not as bad as some but worse than others and a series of sneezes is NOT like driving blind for half a mile. If it was there would be utter carnage on our roads every May and June!

[rospa]

Problem: Drivers sneezing at the wheel.
Solution: Ban sneezing. Sorted.

[Zod]

sounds as if we need a sneeze partnership to introduce sneeze cameras.

[zax]

Ah, brings back memories! Driving off to the seaside for holidays as a youngster, dad sneezing energetically as we passed pollen hotspots complete with exaggerated arm movements and a 30 second ooooooooooooooooooooo at the end of each one

No pollen filtered climate control in those days. I guess I'm lucky to be alive

[chris_w]

PollenHeads - Sneeze Matters

[Quentin1]

Same is for urgent pooing...

ban it.

[apprentice]

IAM suggests...

....keep a box of tissues handy on the passenger seat if you’re alone in the car,...