Greg Wilson, founder of car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk warned drivers on opioid painkillers, tranquillisers or antidepressants
Drivers on three prescription medications issued warning over DVLA rule
Drivers on three prescription medications risk being banned from the road due to DVLA guidance. Greg Wilson, founder of car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk warned drivers on opioid painkillers, tranquillisers or antidepressants. He told motorists they will be recommended to “avoid driving” if they are found to be under the influence.
Greg explained: “If you are on strong medications, it is likely that you will be recommended to avoid driving.
“Opioid painkillers, tranquillisers, and certain antidepressants are examples of medicines that can affect driving ability – as well as those that cause drowsiness or say ‘do not operate heavy machinery.”
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Brake said: “Many prescription and over-the-counter medications impair ability to drive safely, for instance causing drowsiness, affecting reaction times, coordination, concentration or vision.
“Warnings on medication can be vague or in small print only. They may indicate there is a risk of impairment but not relate it to driving. They may leave it to the user to judge their own level of impairment (which can be hard).”
It’s illegal in England, Scotland and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving, the DVLA reminds motorists.
It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you have not been prescribed them.
You can drive after taking these drugs if you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional or they are not causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re above the specified limits.
You could be prosecuted if you drive with certain levels of these drugs in your body and you have not been prescribed them.
The law does not cover Northern Ireland but you could still be arrested if you’re unfit to drive, the DVLA adds.