Like many working moms, Lori spends hours each day shuttling her children to school, activities, and play-dates in the high-traffic Los Angeles area.

With her most precious cargo in the back seat, it's important to Lori that she’s focused behind the wheel.

“As an allergy sufferer, I was surprised to learn that some over-the-counter medicines may cause drowsiness. In fact, the allergy medicine I used to take made me drowsy.

I thought there was something wrong with me because I was so sleepy - which was pretty dangerous considering all the driving I do with my kids, said Lori.

“Then I discovered Claritin, which relieves my worst allergy symptoms for 24 hours without making me drowsy. When you spend as much time driving as I do, you need to be focused.”

Lori is not alone -- in fact many drivers don’t realize that some common over-the-counter medicines could cause drowsiness.

According to a recent survey, four in 10 Americans (38%) report that there have been times when they were driving and realized that the medicine they had taken was making them drowsy.

Tips for Preventing Drowsy Driving

* Always remember to check medicine labels, including allergy medicines, for warnings about drowsiness before getting behind the wheel

* Avoid driving if you’re feeling drowsy

* Schedule breaks during long trips or arrange for a travel companion

* Get adequate sleep

* Stop driving if you start feeling drowsy behind the wheel

For more tips on safe driving and to learn more about treating allergies, visit www.cleartodrive.com.