DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND DRIVING

The potential effects of drugs and alcohol in crash production have been studied by epidemiological and laboratory studies. Both types of study have yielded useful data but they have limitations when the results are applied in practice. Alcohol is the most common single cause of traffic accidents. A progressively increased risk with increasing blood alcohol levels is well documented: fatigue and/or drugs increase this risk. Drugs are related much more infrequently to traffic accidents although on the basis of statistics, there is a potential risk with drug use. However, drugs alone are not as important as alcohol. The most significant drugs as regards driving risk are certain antianxiety agents, hypnotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, marihuana, lithium and narcotic analgesics, together with ganglionic blocking agents, insulin and sulphonylurea derivatives. Patients should not drive after taking these drugs until they are fully alert and capable. Anticholinergics, antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, phenylbutazone, indomethacin, alpha-methyldopa, and beta-blockers may in some cases cause central side effects (eg drowsiness) strong enough to affect driving performance. Psychotropic drugs may enhance the deleterious effect of alcohol, and with most hypnotics there is still an effect the next morning. Some drugs (eg anticonvulsants or antiparkinsonian drugs) may make driving safer, but the disease (epilepsy, parkinsonism, cardiovascular diseases, psychic disorders) often precludes driving. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00126667
• Corporate Authors:

  Adis Press Australasia Proprietary Limited

  P.O. Box 132
  Balgowlah, Sydney, New South Wales  Australia  2093
• Authors:
  • SEPPALA, T
  • LINNOILA, M
  • MATTILA, M J
• Publication Date: 1979

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 389-408
• Serial:
  • Drugs
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Adis Press Australasia Proprietary Limited
  • ISSN: 0012-6667

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholic beverages; Blood alcohol levels; Crashes; Diseases and medical conditions; Driver performance; Drivers; Driving; Drugs; Drunk driving; Hazards; Intoxication; Medicine; Personnel performance; Psychotropic agents; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1553: Blood alcohol content; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 2242: Drugs; 2231: Drunkenness; 9150: Risk; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390296
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-028 888
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 30 1984 12:00AM