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Driving with a cold could be just as dangerous as driving drunk, according to a new study.

Researchers found that people who had a cold had slower reaction times than people who had consumed up to four pints of beer.

The study reveals that a cold made drivers take longer to stop a car, caused them drive too close to cars in front of them and appeared to make them less aware of the danger of hitting another car.

Furthermore, researchers found that when these people sneeze, they took their eyes off the road for an average of three seconds.

Lead researcher Professor Andy Smith of Cardiff University said that while the physical symptoms of a cold are well known, him and his team are looking at the effect colds have on psychological functioning.

The latest study involved 50 people who were infected with colds.  Researchers compared their results to a group who were not infected.

"Having a cold is equivalent to drinking three or four pints and being over the limit,' Smith said, according to the Daily Mail.

"People with a cold had slower reaction times than those associated with drinking," Smith explained. "Colds slowed reaction times by 36 milliseconds. Yet consuming the amount of alcohol that would lead to a driving ban slows reactions by just 15 milliseconds."

Furthermore, Smith and his team found that alertness decreased by a third in people who had a cold.  However, researchers noted that the dangerous effects of driving with a cold did not seem to be altered by the severity of the cold.

Previous studies have suggested that that when the body is dealing with an infection, it can also affect the levels of brain chemicals responsible for mood, memory and movement.

Smith warns that based on the latest findings, it is imperative that people know the risks of driving with a cold.