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UK drivers 'could sneeze their way into an accident'

Motorists have been advised to ensure that they keep on top of their allergies as summer approaches by one insurance body.

According to research conducted by MyVoice for esure, over two million UK drivers have had an accident, near miss or temporary loss of control of a vehicle due to a sneezing fit behind the wheel.

This may be a worrying statistic, considering the fact that hay fever sufferers in the UK number more than 20 million.

In addition, the study found that 21 per cent of motorists admitted to taking their hands off the wheel as the result of sneezing, while 30 per cent said that they have had to take their eyes off the road to search for tissues.

"When you think that sneezing once while driving at 70mph could mean travelling almost 300ft with your eyes closed, it's clear that this is a very dangerous issue that could potentially lead to a fatal accident," said Professor Brian Lipworth, Allergy and Respiratory specialist at Ninewells hospital in Dundee.

The longest sneezing fit ever recorded is that of Donna Griffiths, who, it was estimated, sneezed one million times in the first 365 days, yet sneezed every day from January 13th 1981 to September 16th 1983.

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© Adfero Ltd

15/04/2008 15:03:02

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