Many of us will be battling coughs, sneezes and the sniffles this winter.
But if you're reaching for the painkillers as well as the hankies, you should remember that some everyday medicines could impair your driving.
It's an offence in England, Scotland, and Wales to get behind the wheel with specified limits of certain drugs in your blood.
Drug-driving was made an offence in Scotland on October 21, with 100 people providing positives on new roadside drug tests in the first four weeks alone.
Drivers convicted for drug-driving face a minimum one-year ban, 3-11 penalty points on their licence, up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5000, so it pays to be vigilant when using even common prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
The Scottish Government website explains that medicine limits are generally set above the normal therapeutic range but that people on particularly high doses of medicine could test above the specified limit and "where that happens they would be entitled to raise the statutory medical defence."
Take codeine, for instance: This is found in painkillers like Nurofen Plus used to treat the symptoms of the common cold, and can cause drowsiness in users.
The active ingredient is also found in Migraleve, Syndol and Boots branded tablets. It can lead to dizziness and may even affect your hearing, leading to dangerous implications on your driving.
Driving group RAC advise you should ask your doctor whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following:
- amphetamine, for example dexamphetamine or selegiline
- clonazepam
- diazepam
- flunitrazepam
- lorazepam
- methadone
- morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, for example codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
- oxazepam
- temazepam
If police suspect a motorist of driving under the influence of drugs they can carry out a ‘field impairment assessment’ – a series of tests that could see you asked to walk in a straight line, for example.
Newly available “drugalysers” that use a mouth swab to screen for cannabis and cocaine can also be used.
Justice secretary Humza Yousef welcomed Police Scotland anti drink and drug-driving Christmas campaign last month.
He said: "The message is unequivocal. If you get pulled over, you are going to get tested for drink and drugs. And if you are found to have traces of either, there will be some really serious consequences."
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