USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE AND HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS IN RELATION TO DRIVING RISK

Reviewed were investigations of prevalence of drug use in different populations (including the driving populations), drug use among persons involved in accidents, and accident rates among drug using/abusing populations. A review of the available literature on drug involvement in vehicular accidents suggests that few definite conclusions can be made. It appears that 35 to 50% of the general population take the risk of driving after drug use at least once per year. Much of the known drug use problem occurs among drinking drivers. It is uncertain whether narcotics and hallucinogenic drug users had elevated accident rates and whether their accidents are due to their drug use. Such drugs cannot easily be analysed in body fluids at present. It appears that the known contribution of drugs to accidents is small, compared to say, alcohol. However, better studies on more frequent drug use in the population may necessitate a revision of this conclusion. At present, there appears to be no need for greater legal counter-measures against drug use and driving.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Vermont Symposium on Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, Warren, Vermont, 13-15 October, 1972.
• Corporate Authors:

  Addiction Research Foundation

  33 Russel Street
  Toronto, ONo,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • Smart, R G
• Publication Date: 1972-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 33 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Crash rates; Driver performance; Drivers; Drugs; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Hazards; Personnel performance; Risk assessment
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080733
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1975 12:00AM