Driving with hay fever hacks and helpful tips

• Millions of motorists with hay fever unsuspectingly driving past some of the most polliniferous plants in the UK

• Hay fever season is getting longer and with more drivers than ever, it is roadside plants that can be the biggest culprits of sufferers' symptoms

• Common weeds and grasses that grow on verges can produce the most pollen; exhaust fumes can cause pollen particles to be ‘supercharged’

• Octane Finance is encouraging motorists to spring into action with helpful hay fever hacks when behind the wheel

While most of us Brits welcome the spring sunshine with open arms, others are left fearing the abundance of pollen in the warmer air. Hay fever affects millions of people in the UK and can leave sufferers with watery itchy eyes, blocked noses and sore throats.

Cases can vary from mild to severe, so depending on how a person is affected by the symptoms, hay fever can impact everyday duties such as driving. In this article all about driving with hay fever, we share helpful hacks and top tips for drivers, and reveal the roadside plants that cause the most problems for sufferers. Read on to find out more…   

What is hay fever?

Hay fever (medically known as allergic rhinitis) is an allergic reaction humans have to the pollen produced by grass, plants, weeds and trees. When pollen comes into contact with parts of the face - such as the eyes, nose and mouth - it can cause cold or flu-like symptoms which vary in severity from person to person. 

Between the spring and summer months of April to September is when the pollen count in the UK is at its highest, which is when most hay fever sufferers display symptoms. Warm, windy and humid weather conditions can exacerbate the condition and unlike a cold, symptoms can last for weeks or months at a time. 

In some extreme cases, hay fever can be a year-round problem; this means that sufferers are not only affected by seasonal pollen-producing plants, but the symptoms are also triggered by perennial plants that grow all year round too. 

What are the causes of hay fever? 

While hay fever is heavily associated with pollen, it is not the only cause of symptoms for sufferers. Some of the most common hay fever causes include:

- Tree pollen (mostly likely in spring)
- Grass pollen (mostly likely during the spring and early summer months)
- Weed pollen (most likely in autumn)
- Dust mites
- Mould spores
- Animal hair and dander (similar to dandruff in humans)  

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Allergy related symptoms occur in the body as a reaction to irritants such as pollen-based plants. These manifest in ways that can affect a person’s everyday life and include some or all of the following issues:

- Frequent sneezing
- Irritable cough
- A runny or blocked nose
- Itchy eyes that become watery and red
- Itchy ear canals and earache
- Headache and pain around the temple and/or forehead
- Feeling tired and lethargic
- A loss of smell

How do you treat hay fever?

The best remedies for treating hay fever can vary from person to person and also depends on the severity of the symptoms. If you’re a sufferer, it’s important to understand that there is currently no cure for the condition or any form of preventative medicine. 

Instead, there are ways of controlling and easing the symptoms if they have a negative impact on your life. Your local pharmacist will be able to prescribe over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines, which are designed to control hay fever symptoms. These may include allergy tablets such as Piriton or Clarityn.

There are of course measures you can take to improve the environment around you to help prevent hay fever, and ways in which you can help protect yourself against pollen. Below, we’ve listed our top tips to reduce hay fever symptoms… 

10 Top tips for hay fever sufferers

1. Apply vaseline around your nostrils which will help trap the pollen and reduce the amount you inadvertently breathe in
2. Wear sunglasses to reduce the amount of pollen that can get in your eyes
3. Wash your hands after being outside
4. Change and wash your clothes after being outside to reduce the amount of pollen brought inside the house
5. Keep windows and doors shut when the pollen count is high
6. Dust indoor surfaces regularly with a damp cloth to combat potential irritants
7. Vacuum the carpet regularly to reduce dust, mites, pollen and dander
8. Do not have freshly cut flowers in the house
9. Air dry your clothes indoors to prevent pollen from sticking to fabrics
10. Wearing a face mask will reduce the amount of dust and pollen intake from the mouth and nose      

How many people in the UK suffer from hay fever?

The UK has one of the highest allergy rates in the world and subsequently has a very high number of hay fever sufferers across the country. The NHS inform website claims that 1 in 5 people will be affected by hay fever at some point in their lives (that’s 2 in 10 people, as reported by the Met Office). 

Allergy UK - supporting people with allergies - reports that those suffering from hay fever symptoms at some point in their life is actually 49% of the UK population. From these statistics we can work out the following figures when it comes to the amount of hay fever sufferers in the UK:

• The UK population in May 2023 is 68,901,184 (figure accurate as of 11 May 2023 courtesy of Worldometer)
• If 49% of the UK population suffer from hay fever, then 33,761,580 people have pollen allergies
• This means that over 33.7 million of us Brits have (or have suffered from) hay fever at some point in our lifetime
• However, if we are to report on hay fever figures of 1 in 5 people (as quoted by the NHS) the number falls to 13,780,236 - which means over 13.7 million Brits are known to have hay fever  

Your chances of suffering from hay fever symptoms increases if there is a history of allergies in the family, or if you have been diagnosed with asthma or eczema. There is good news for hay fever sufferers who have had the condition from childhood; you will usually grow out of condition or suffer less symptoms as an adult.   

Hay fever hotspots in the UK

Does where you live affect your chances of hay fever? Well according to the latest data, the answer is yes! In a study by the pollen services research centre at Worcester University, it revealed that hay fever severity can differ by region - and it seems that hay fever sufferers here at Octane Finance have cause for concern, as the South East region of England has the highest pollen count out of the whole of the UK!

The reason for this is that we’re a more highly populated area, so this naturally results in more drivers and cars on the road (and it turns out that exhaust fumes ‘supercharge’ pollen particles), plus the South East is home to the most problematic pollen plants.

The study took into account the pollen integral by region over a 92-day period from March to June (the most seasonally affected time for hay fever sufferers) to find an average daily pollen count in different parts of the country. Pollen integral is the pollen count per cubic metre on any given day. As such, the data showed that the South East has a total pollen count of 153.60.  

The second highest region for pollen count is the East Midlands with an average pollen count of 130.72 per day, followed by the West Midlands in third place with an average daily pollen count of 69.60. Residents in Northern Ireland are least likely to suffer from hay fever - the average daily pollen count there is just 13.32.

Here are the top 10 hay fever hotspots in the UK by region:

1. South East
2. East Midlands
3. West Midlands
4. Wales
5. North East
6. North West
7. South Central
8. South West
9. Scotland
10. Northern Ireland

How many motorists in the UK have hay fever?

Data from GOV.UK shows that 77% of people in the UK (aged 17 and over) have a full car driving licence. When we refer back to the UK population which is 68,901,184, and takeaway 12,392,240 of the population aged 17 and under (the legal driving age in the UK) this amounts to 56,508,944 people who are of the legal driving age in the UK. 

We of course know that not everyone who is legally able to drive does so, which means we instead need to take into account the number of licensed vehicles in the UK when it comes to working out the figures. According to the GOV.UK website there were 40.8 million licensed vehicles in the UK (data taken from the latest information available at the end of September 2022). 

Let’s assume there is one driver per licensed vehicle in the UK, there will then be 40,800,000 motorists in the UK. Working off the 1 in 5 people having hay fever formula (from stats courtesy of the NHS) that means there are around 8.1 million drivers in the UK who suffer from hay fever symptoms.

But, if we’re to run the figures based on Allergy UK’s statistics (that 49% of the population reporting hay fever symptoms at some point in their life) then that figure jumps to a whopping 19,992,000 - that’s around 19.2 million drivers in the UK who could suffer from hay fever symptoms. 

Can you drive with hay fever?

Yes, you can drive with hay fever but of course it’s important to stay safe behind the wheel. This means if you are experiencing severe symptoms that could impair your ability to drive, then you’ll need to stay at home or find alternative means of transport.

Hay fever symptoms can get worse at any time, so always err on the side of caution if you are suffering - especially on days with an especially high pollen count.     

Why is driving with hay fever dangerous?

Although it is not necessary to report hay fever allergies to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) as a medical condition, it is your responsibility to ensure you can drive safely - which is expressed in rules set out by The Highway Code.

Hay fever sufferers can have extremely itchy and watery eyes, repeated sneezing and coughing fits - all major hindrances when behind the wheel - which could impair your vision and cause you to lose control of the vehicle.  

Tips for driving with hay fever

There are many ways in which you can reduce your chances of being affected by pollen and exhaust fumes - the main causes of allergy symptoms. Here we share our must-do driving with hay fever hacks…  

Driving with hay fever hacks

• Cover the skin around your nostrils in vaseline - this will help prevent any pollen or dust from irritating your nose which is the main cause of sneezing
• Wipe your dashboard with a damp cloth before driving - anti-bac wipes or a damp cloth will remove any dust or pollen that has settled in your car
• Keep your windows closed while driving - this will restrict pollen and fumes from entering your vehicle
• Have a box of tissues to hand - if a runny nose was to catch you unawares when driving, then you’ll be grateful these are in reaching distance
• Keep your air conditioning system clean - dust and pollen can lay dormant in the air-con and be blasted into the vehicle cabin when in use
• Fit a pollen air filter in your vehicle - also known as a cabin filter, this fits all makes and models of car and is designed to prevent pollen and other irritants from entering the vehicle
• Wear sunglasses when behind the wheel - bright and sunny days can cause your eyes to squint and water, which is only made worse if you are a hay fever sufferer
• Check the pollen count ahead of your journey! Last but by no means least, you can check the pollen count up to five days ahead of your journey    

Can you take hay fever medication and drive?

Yes, you can take hay fever medication and drive, but this does depend on the type of allergy medication taken and YOU MUST make sure it DOES NOT cause drowsiness. Some medication can also cause side effects, so if you are taking hay fever medication for the first time, then steer away from driving until you know it is safe to do so. 

The same goes for antihistamines. As explained on the NHS website, antihistamines can cause drowsiness, blurred vision, poor judgement and a reduced ability to respond quickly - all causes of dangerous driving. 

How driving with hay fever could result in a fine

Just because hay fever medication is legal to take in order to reduce symptoms, it doesn’t always mean you are driving legally. Being in charge of a vehicle under the influence of medication - especially those that cause drowsiness - can land you in hot water with the police.

Rule 96 of The Highway Code states that drivers MUST NOT operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or medicine. It goes on to advise that drivers must check with a doctor or pharmacist if they can drive while taking medication, and must not drive if they are advised not to do so.  

If you are caught driving while taking medication when told not to do so - or you are taking medication that impairs your ability to drive - you could be fined or even lose your licence. In some cases you could even serve time in prison. Anti-allergy medications can make people prone to drowsiness, so always read the label before you get behind the wheel of a vehicle.   

What plants have the highest pollen count in the UK?

Pollen from trees, grass and weeds are the main culprits of causing hay fever symptoms in humans. In alphabetical order, here is a list of the plants that produce the most pollen here in the UK:

• Alder - a deciduous tree found near water
• Ash - a deciduous tree that spreads large amount of pollen when flowering
• Birch - a deciduous tree with distinctive silvery bark
• Dock - a tall plant with clusters of reddish flowers found in meadows
• Elm - a tall deciduous tree found in woodland
• Grass - found at ground level all over the UK
• Hazel - a deciduous tree found in woodland
• Lime - an ornamental tree often found in parkland
• Mugwort - a weed found in places such as wasteland, with small yellow or red flowers 
• Nettle - also known as ‘stinging nettles’ the weeds can be found just about anywhere in the UK 
• Oak - a large deciduous tree found in both urban and rural areas throughout the UK
• Pine - a coniferous tree largely found in woodland
• Plane - a tree commonly found in urban areas, sometimes referred as the ‘London’ plane
• Poplar - a deciduous tree common in towns and cities
• Rapeseed - also known as oilseed rape, is a common food crop grown throughout the UK
• Willow - a small shrub or tree found near water
• Yew - a tall conifer with bright red berries  

If you are a hay fever sufferer, then you’ll want to steer clear of grass as this is considered to be the biggest cause of allergic rhinitis in the UK - most problematic from early spring through to late autumn. 

What roadside plants cause hay fever in the UK?

As drivers with hay fever know all too well, it is the plants by the roadside that can cause the biggest problems when behind the wheel. You could be surprised at just how many kerbside grasses and weeds can cause hay fever symptoms to flare up when you least expect.

When left to their own devices, plants, weeds and grasses that grow on roadside verges can become very big and reach car window height - not ideal for drivers with hay fever. This is why it’s so important to keep your car windows closed during the spring and summer months - especially when it is humid and windy - as this is when the pollen is at its peak. 

While driving, look out for tall grasses, stinging nettles, dock and mugwort, which are all commonly found along the roadside and are some of the biggest causes of hay fever symptoms.   

Hay fever seasons are getting longer

Consultant John Lay has been a hay fever sufferer for many years and is already feeling the effects of this year’s spring pollen. Driving to and from the Octane Finance office near Wickford in Essex can trigger John’s symptoms, so he is conscious of following the hay fever hacks we’ve shared in this article. 

Having undertaken some of his own research into hay fever and its causes, John discovered some interesting information about plant pollen. He explains: “Surprisingly, I found out that it is in fact male species of trees and plants that are the most potent when it comes to releasing pollen. Compared to female species, male trees and plants release much more pollen into the air - and more frequently.” 

He continues: “To add to the troubles of hay fever sufferers, there are many more male species of trees and plants in our cities, towns and villages now, because it turns out they are easier to maintain and are a lot more robust, so tend to thrive better than female species do.”

In another blow to hay fever sufferers, John also found out that pollen seasons are getting gradually longer year-on-year. He adds: “The latest research in biological sciences show that due to climate change, our pollen season is starting up to 20 days earlier and lasting at least 10 days longer than they did 30 years ago - that’s a whole month of extra hay fever symptoms for someone like me!”  

Are you a hay fever sufferer? If so, you can keep an eye on the latest pollen count in your area by checking the Met Office pollen forecast. Here you can select a region and see the pollen forecast for up to five days in advance.

If you’re a hay fever sufferer and have any other helpful hacks and top tips that we haven’t shared in this article, then we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch via email, WhatsApp or message us on social media.