AbstractAll records from the Danish Medicolegal Council concerning drivers suspected for drug influence were examined for the 5 year period 1981 – 1985.461 records were included, 62 women and 399 men. In 250 cases drugs from more than one of ten groups had been taken thus making 786 combinations of drug/driving. The major drug group was benzodiazepines, accounting for 65% of all drug intake. Opioids also contributed substantially, found in 38% of the cases. A traffic accident had occurred in 180 (39%) of the records. Drivers who had been taking antidepressives were involved in an accident in 67%, significantly above the mean. For benzodiazepines, the corresponding percentage was 43%, while for opioids it was only 23%, significantly below the mean. This striking difference has been demonstrated in most of the studies concerning drugs in traffic. It may support the hypothesis that opioids do not necessarily make driving dangerous, as do antidepressives, barbiturates and especially benzodiazepines.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Traffic accidents and drivers suspected for drug influence



    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1990-01-10


    Size :

    8 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    Towards Reducing Traffic Accidents through Assisting Drivers

    Jayawardana, Manuja / Karunanayaka, Kasun | IEEE | 2022


    Psychological Factors in Young Drivers' Traffic Accidents

    V. Briem / A. Ragnarsson / K. Thordarson | NTIS | 2002


    Drivers Age and Traffic Accidents in Lithuania

    Sadauskas, V. / Kauno Technologijos universitetas | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2011


    Drug abuse among drivers suspected for driving under the influence of drugs

    Seppaelae, T. / Lillsunde, P. / Kuitunen, T. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993