ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsDriving danger of a 'cold'

Could a common cold be as dangerous as booze?

A heavy cold is equal to four double whiskeys, according to British researchers.

In Britain, insurance company, Young/Marmalade attached black boxes - just like in planes -- to thousands of cars.

They found normally excellent drivers under the influence of cold - became dangerous drivers.

Researcher, Nigel Lacy says, "When a driver had a cold their reactions were much slower. They were braking later, their cornering was a little more erratic-- it is almost like having loads and loads of drinks if you've got a cold and you're trying to drive."

The most likely reason for reduced reaction time, poor sleep caused by a cold. So if the cold reacted accident rate holds true in this country. Colds cause more than 600-thousand accidents a year.

So, what should people with a cold do?  Experts say, do everything you can to make sure that you are much more attentive; or better yet, just call in sick and leave the car in the garage.