01025810

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...nepubs/circulars/ec096.pdf

This paper presents the results of a prospective case-control study, conducted in the Netherlands, where the prevalence of psychoactive substances among injured drivers (a hospital sample) was compared with the prevalence in the general driving population (a random roadside sample). The study formed part of the European Union (EU) research project IMMORTAL. The aim of the project was "to provide evidence to propose intervention methods for driver impairment, and support the future development of European policy governing driver impairment legislation." Eight drug groups were included in the study: alcohol, benzodiazepines (BZDs), tricyclic antidepressants, methadone, opiates, amphetamines, cannabis, and cocaine. Among the general driving population, cannabis, BZDs and alcohol were the prevailing substances. Out of the 3,799 stopped and tested drivers: (1) 4.5% were positive for cannabis, 3.9% for cannabis alone, and 0.6% for cannabis in combination with other drugs and/or alcohol; (2) 2.1% were positive for BZDs, 2.0% for BZDs alone, and 0.1% for BZDs in combination with other drugs and/or alcohol; and (3) 2.1% were positive for alcohol [blood alcohol content (BAC)≥0.2 g/l], 1.8% for alcohol alone, and 0.3% for alcohol in combination with other drugs. Drugs of abuse were strongly concentrated in male drivers aged 18 to 24. No less than 17.5% of them were positive for illegal drugs. Psychoactive prescription drugs were strongly concentrated in female drivers aged 50 and older; 11.3% were positive. Comparison of the road and hospital samples showed that approximately 35% of serious injuries among drivers in the Tilburg police district were associated with self-administered alcohol and/or illegal drugs, and especially with drug-free BAC levels greater than ≥0.8 g/l, and with drug-drug combinations. These three categories accounted for 12.7%, 8.3%, and 7.2%, respectively, of the 184 seriously injured drivers included in the hospital sample. The corresponding odds ratios were 87, 179, and 24, respectively.

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01025806

English

pp 22-35

2006-5

Transportation Research Circular

Drugs and Traffic: A Symposium

Web

References; Tables (12)

Age; Alcoholic beverages; Amphetamines; Antidepressants; Blood alcohol levels; Case studies; Cocaine; Crash victims; Drivers; Drugged drivers; Drunk driving; Gender; Marijuana; Risk analysis

Benzodiazepines; Methadone; Opiates; Random testing

Netherlands

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

TRIS, TRB

Jun 16 2006 7:24PM

• Commentary on Cannabis and Crash Risk: Concentration Effect Relation
• Commentary on History of DWI Enforcement: What Does It Tell Us About DUID Enforcement?
• Commentary on Legal Framework for Dealing with Drugs in Traffic
• Commentary on Legal Framework for Dealing with Drugs in Traffic
• Commentary on Medicinal Drugs and Driving
• Commentary on Medicinal Drugs: Critical Review of Present Knowledge and Statements for Discussion
• Commentary on the Risks Posed by Drugs in Traffic
• Commentary on the Risks Posed by Drugs in Traffic
• Commentary on Variability Among Epidemiological Studies of Drugs and Driving
• Drug Effects and Their Significance for Traffic Safety
• Drug-Impaired Driving: Improving Integration of Toxicology, Technology, and Enforcement
• Drugs and Traffic: A Symposium. Overview and Summary
• Legal Framework for Dealing with Drugs in Traffic
• Medicinal Drugs: Critical Review of Present Knowledge and Statements for Discussion
• Role of Cannabis and Benzodiazepines in Motor Vehicle Crashes