Driving with a cold can be dangerous and increase the chance of having an accident, according to new research conducted by Lloyds TSB Insurance .
The insurer found that a cold or the flu can impair driver awareness by as much as 11 per cent, an effect which is equivalent to drinking a double whisky before getting behind the wheel. Lloyds TSB Insurance said that driving in these situations, which it refers to as “under the influenza”, costs the UK around £350 million a year in car insurance claims.
Paula Llewellyn, spokesperson for Lloyds TSB Insurance, said: “Our research proves that getting behind the wheel when ill causes thousands of accidents every year.”
Recently, Lloyds TSB hit the headlines when it bought out the HBOS group, which includes Halifax and the Bank of Scotland, in a controversial deal to create the UK’s largest high street banking group.