The survey of over a thousand motorists, conducted by car finance specialist Zuto, also found that while nearly of half (47%) would call in sick after breaking an arm, over a fifth (21%) would continue to drive.  

Furthermore, nearly 9 in 10 (86%) motorists said they would take to the roads when they had a cold/flu.  

And nearly half (46%) of those suffering from a migraine still felt it was safe to drive, while 52% of those with eye infections said they’d be happy to risk a trip on the roads.

Ryan Dignan from Zuto said: “Our guide highlights the dangers of common illness we’re likely to ignore, so we’re encouraging all drivers to start paying attention to those little things that can have a big effect.”

Zuto also spotlighted the potential problems of driving under certain types of medication.

Christine Davies, a pharmacy technician of over 20 years, added: “Quite a lot of people aren't aware that the medicines they're taking can have an effect on their concentration and could cause drowsiness.”

“The thing to remember is that all drugs have some side effects, but they aren't the same for everyone and can interact with other regular medications. The main thing is if you're taking anything new, and you start to feel unusual in any way, check with your doctor or pharmacist.”