Not just the booze: polysubstance use among fatally injured drivers

Alcohol is regarded as a significant cause of driver impairment. In more recent years however, concern has been growing over the use and abuse of illicit substances and prescription pharmaceuticals that can impair driving performance. The analysis of the toxicology records of N=1,375 drivers fatally injured in Western Australia 2000-2012 showed that over six in ten tested positive for either alcohol, illicit drugs and various pharmaceuticals alone or in combination. The identification of the presence of multiple, potentially impairing substances highlights the need to review current policies and practices in relation to the enforcement and management of substance impaired driving.

• Record URL:
  http://acrs.org.au/publications/acrs-conference-papers/acrs-database/
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Extended abstract only
• Authors:
  • Palamara, P
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Conference, 2016, Canberra, ACT, Australia
• Publication Date: 2016-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 3p
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference, 6-8 September, Canberra, Australia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver performance; Drivers; Drugged drivers; Drugs; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Intoxication; Law enforcement
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Western Australia
• ATRI Terms: Drink driving; Driver performance; Drug driving; Fatality; Law enforcement
• ITRD Terms: 1534: Enforcement (law); 1602: Fatality
• Subject Areas: Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01617951
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 28 2016 2:35PM