Tuesday 11th March 2003

Anti-Depressants

Sad people could be a liability

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Up to a million people in the UK could be driving while taking anti-depressant drugs. You might think that these happy souls are the ones letting you out of side junctions and stopping to let old ladies cross the road. But no, these are the people who might be suffering from side effects including agitation, aggression, anxiety, dizziness and blurred vision.

The RAC Foundation has urged the Government to undertake an urgent investigation into the possible connections between road safety and taking anti-depressants.

The use of anti-depressants has increased dramatically over the past decade as more people get totally hacked off with life.

Between 1990 and 1995, the number of prescriptions for anti-depressants rose by 116 per cent, and for SSRI’s (newer antidepressants such as Prozac) in particular by 732 per cent. 2001 alone saw a ten per cent increase on the previous year in the number of anti-depressant prescriptions.

A recent report commissioned by the Department of Transport suggested that more research was needed to investigate the effects of new generation anti-depressants on driving performance and accident risk.

In the meantime, beware anyone looking very happy or very sad. In fact, just beware.

[james]

It's depressing, isn't it?

[apache]

yep, I feel like hitting the prosac every time someone else comes up with a new reason to evade the real issue of bad driving habits. EDUCATE THE FCUKERS!!!

[Captain Muppet]

apache said: ... EDUCATE THE FCUKERS!!!

Tut tut - you spelt ****ers incorrectly.

Edited to say: educate them and have the ones that don't learn shot in the face.

>> Edited by Captain Muppet on Tuesday 11th March 16:06

[Big_M]

Just as dangerous IMHO is driving when tired. Having said that my GP has given me some pretty strong painkillers for back pain and I wont drive for five hours after taking one.