The pollen count has been incredibly high this year already but these hacks could save your nose and wallet
Hay fever sufferers could be fined up to £7,500 this summer if they’re not careful. This year’s summer season has already been a trying one for hay fever sufferers with the pollen levels being incredibly high. And while sufferers can’t help symptoms of sneezing and itchy eyes, these could land you with a mighty fine.
It may seem extreme but those who are suffering from hay fever tend to experience eye irritation or are coughing and sneezing a lot more than normal. When driving this could cause drivers to take their eyes off the road, which even for a split second could be dangerous.
And it’s not just the symptoms of hay fever that could see you landed with a hefty fine, the medication you’re using could see you fined as much as £5,000. Car maintenance experts at ATS Euromaster have come up with five tips to keep you fine free while suffering with hay fever this summer.
Apply Vaseline
If a driver loses control due to sneezing, irritated eyes or even coughing they could land themselves with a heavy £2,500 fine. To help avoid this experts have suggested applying a few dabs of a petroleum like Vaseline under the nostril before driving. The dust and pollen which would normally go up your nose will then get stuck to the jelly instead, preventing the sneezing.
Clean your car
We all love a clean car but it can actually make a massive difference to those suffering from hay fever. By regularly cleaning your car the dust and pollen particles won’t be building up in your car for long periods of time.
When cleaning the car make sure to hoover everywhere, pick the mats off the floor, in the boot and even on the dashboard. And to reduce how often you need to clean, replace your car mats with rubber versions.
Check what hay fever tablets you are taking
If you don’t want to be handed a £5,000 fine you will want to remember this tip the most. Before thinking about heading out to drive, double check what tablets you are taking as some contain antihistamines that actually make you drowsy, which could see you getting convicted for taking legal drugs if it affects your driving.
Experts shared that “The Road Traffic Act related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, does not distinguish between illegal drugs and over the counter medicine”, so remember to check.
Regularly replace your pollen filters
A lot of the more modern cars on the roads are now fitted with pollen filters, preventing your car being filled with pollen via the air vents but they can get blocked. Simon Wayne, expert at ATS Euromaster, said: “Not all cars are fitted with these filters, and this is something we’d expect to see in newer models.
“If you do have one, your pollen filter should typically last 12,000 miles before needing replacing. To be safe, we recommend changing them once a year.
“They can often be changed at home and are usually held in place by clips that can be accessed without any tools. However, you may need a screwdriver if yours has been in place a long time.”
Keep your windows closed
This may be an annoying tip- as keeping your windows closed in the summer seems like a sure-fire way to overheat, but it will help keep your allergies at bay. The good thing is you can still use your air conditioning as the pollen filter should keep the dust and pollen from entering the car.
