One in three regular drivers in Spain (34%) admits to having driven under the influence of medications that can impair driving ability. This reality, potentially linked to 5% to 10% of traffic accidents, remains a little-noticed risk for a large part of the population and is often overlooked by drivers.
The study ‘Fármacos y Conducción’ (Medication and Driving), conducted by Fundación Mapfre and Fundación Bidafarma in collaboration with the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) and the General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges, aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with medication and driving. According to Eva Arranz, a doctor at Fundación Mapfre, the association of medications with health improvement can reduce the perception of risk, especially for over-the-counter or natural products. Many drivers believe they can compensate for the effects of medication, leading to a false sense of control.
Although 83% of drivers consider that medications can pose a high risk to driving, rating this danger at 6.9 out of 9, only 26% claim to exercise extreme caution when taking medication. Situations like rain (72%), night driving (60%), or fatigue (53%) generate much higher levels of alert.
The report also indicates that 61% of medicated drivers state that their medication does not affect or only slightly affects their driving ability, a perception that rises to 73% among those who decide to drive under its effects. However, half (49%) of these drivers admit to experiencing symptoms such as drowsiness, fatigue, or reduced reflexes. The most common response to these symptoms is to adapt driving by reducing speed or exercising extreme caution, rather than stopping driving.
Experts warn that while the risks of anxiolytics, sleeping pills, or antidepressants are identified, the effects of other frequently used medications such as cold remedies, cough suppressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, or natural products are often underestimated. Polydrug use and the consumption of over-the-counter medications, often combined with alcohol or other substances, increase the risk due to potential cumulative effects and drug interactions.
The profile of a driver who drives under the influence of medication is typically around 50 years old, uses the car for daily errands (73%), and has more driving experience (64% with over 20 years of license).
