Tas coroner warns on using cold medicine

A coroner has warned of the dangers of using cough and cold medicines with drowsy side-effects after a fatal Tasmanian road smash.

Sarah Victoria Bishop, 71, died when her Mazda sports car crossed on to the wrong side of the Channel Highway south of Hobart, in October 2015, and collided head-on with a four-wheel drive.

"In the circumstances of Mrs Bishop's death I am satisfied that it is appropriate to remind drivers of vehicles of the dangers associated with using cough and/or cold medicine prior to and whilst driving," coroner Simon Cooper said in his findings published on Tuesday, citing high levels of dextromethorphan found in her blood.