A little-known car button that can stop hayfever and a £2,500 fine has been revealed. Drivers with hayfever are at risk of being hit with fines unless they press one button found in almost all cars.
The Recirculation Button
Yell explained: The 'air circulation' or 'recirculation' feature, typically found on a car's dashboard, allows the vehicle to be cooled by recirculating the air already present rather than drawing in air from outside.
'By keeping your windows shut and using this button that looks like a car with an arrow inside it, you can help alleviate hayfever sufferers' symptoms while driving, and you could avoid being at risk of a fine and causing harm to other road users.'
Risks of Driving with Hayfever
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said: 'Some medicines, including those used to treat hay fever, can have an effect on your ability to drive safely. They can affect your vision, your hearing, your reaction time, your perception of risk and your ability to carry out a variety of tasks. Your vision may be blurred, and you may also find it hard to focus or pay attention. Symptoms like this make you much more likely to be involved in a collision.'
If a bout of sneezing causes you to swerve or lose focus momentarily, you could face a fine of up to £1,000 or even more if an accident occurs.
Additional Benefits
Car insurance experts at Saga added: 'This feature is particularly useful for those who suffer from hay fever, as the recirculation mode prevents pollen from entering the car through the aircon system. It also preserves the car's pollen filters since they won't be needed to filter the air. It's best to let new air in for longer journeys, which some cars automatically do when the recirculation button is activated.'
