AS MANY as a quarter of the UK’s 28 million regular drivers could be risking their own and other people’s lives by using their cars even when they know that medicines they are taking may impair their driving ability, according to research by the RAC.

An even higher proportion, three out of every 10 drivers, never - or only sometimes - read the labelling on their prescription or over-the-counter medicines before deciding whether or not to get behind the wheel.

The new findings, part of the RAC Report on Motoring 2003: Drink, Drugs and Driving, reveal that most motorists would like clearer and more easily understood guidance on the dangers of driving after taking medicines.

More than seven in 10 believe that introducing a traffic light warning system on bottles and packets would significantly affect their decision on whether to drive, while three in 10 believe that a doctor prescribing medicine should have the main responsibility to advise of the dangers.

A traffic light system would use the colour red to indicate that you should not drive if you are taking a medicine that is unsafe. Green would indicate that the medicine has no effect on a driver’s performance or concentration behind the wheel.

Several road safety and motorists’ lobbies, including the RAC Foundation, have campaigned for a traffic light system to be introduced following growing public concern into the significance of this problem.

The RAC’s Rebecca Bell said: “This report demonstrates that current warnings appearing in the small print of packaging are not as explicit as they should be.

“The strong support for an unambiguous traffic lights warning system or more easily-understood verbal explanations from a doctor or pharmacist demonstrate this.’’