Medicines can cause aggression and blurred vision, says the RAC

On the same day a poll suggested nearly 75% of mothers admitted to making serious road safety blunders while driving their children around.

The RAC Foundation, the motoring organisation's campaigning arm, wants more research into the dangers of driving while on anti-depressant medication, and a campaign to highlight the possible risks.

Edmund King, executive director, said: "There is considerable evidence that older generation anti-depressant drugs and tranquillisers have an adverse effect on driving and can increase the risk of accidents.

DISTRACTED MOTHERS 79% regularly take eyes off road to look after children 69% regularly break speed limits 54% have jumped traffic lights 47% have driven aggressively 37% have cut up other cars 35% forget to belt youngsters up Source: Autoglass poll of 500 mothers

"But not enough work has been done on the relationship between the newer forms of medication and driving."

The RAC move follows a recent report commissioned by the Department for Transport, which suggested more research was needed to investigate the effects of new anti-depressants on driving.

It recommended that additional studies were needed - including the testing of drivers involved in road accidents for the presence of drugs at the time, instead of the more traditional method of using prescription records.

The report said definitive conclusions could only be made following further studies that would also look at dosage, duration and tolerance levels and interaction with other drugs and alcohol.

Patients taking anti-depressant medications should monitor their own driving behaviour RAC Foundation

"It is imperative that the government implements the recommendations of their report and undertakes conclusive research about the safety of anti-depressant drugs for motorists," said Mr King.

"In the meantime, patients taking anti-depressant medications should monitor their own driving behaviour and be aware of the possibility that their driving abilities might be influenced by the drug or its side effects and act responsibly.

"If in any doubt drivers should consult their GP."

Distracted mothers

One in four mothers has been involved in an accident when a child has been with them, the poll commissioned by windscreen company Autoglass suggested.

More than one in three of the mothers questioned (35%) had forgotten to belt their youngsters up, nearly half (47%) had driven aggressively and 37% had cut up other cars.

More than half (54%) of the 500 polled jump traffic lights and 69% regularly break speed limits.

Also 79% regularly took their eyes off the road to deal with children.

Four in five mothers said driving with children in the car was a really stressful experience.