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When feeling ill, should I take medication before driving?

I’ve been feeling sick for a while, but I need to go to the store and run errands. Being sick makes me groggy, which isn’t great for driving. Is taking medication before driving safe?

avatar
Michelle Ballestrasse · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear you’re feeling under the weather! Being sick is not only frustrating, it’s also hugely inconvenient. If medication helps, you should definitely take it—there’s no need to suffer.
However, when feeling ill, you should only take medication before driving if it does not cause drowsiness. Read the label carefully. If you see a warning stating that you should not operate heavy machinery, then you should not drive. Doing so could result in receiving a
DUI
.
Also, consider that if you’re sick, that alone could make driving a bad idea. You may be more tired, your
reaction time
may be compromised, and your awareness is likely limited. So if you don’t have to drive, it’s probably better to avoid it.
The good news is that, if you need supplies, delivery services are widely available nowadays. For example, there’s Instacart for groceries, DoorDash for takeout, and of course, Amazon Prime if you’re able to wait a day or two for whatever you need. Take advantage when you’re sick—you deserve to rest!
Practicing safe driving can save you money on your
car insurance
, as insurers check your driving record when pricing your policy. To save even more on insurance, go to
Jerry
.
Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that can collect quotes from over 50 top-rated car insurance companies in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
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