The Victorian legislative framework for testing drivers for impairment caused by drugs other than alcohol : an evaluation of the characteristics of drivers detected from 2000 to 2005

On December 1, 2000, new legislation came into force in Victoria, Australia, that involved a framework for the procedure to be followed by the police for the detection of drivers impaired by drugs other than alcohol. An integral part of the procedure is the use of performance tests known as the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs) and the analysis of blood samples for the presence of drugs other than alcohol. This paper outlines the new legislative framework and the drug impairment detection procedures currently in place in Victoria. This paper also evaluates the data collected using the framework for the first five years since implementation in Victoria

Detection of cannabis-induced impairment with sobriety testing

A report on the affects of cannabis prepared for VicRoads

Dexamphetamine-induced driving impairment

Abstract not available

SFSTs and driving ability. Are they related?

Abstract not available

Tamazepam and alcohol: evaluation of a saliva drug-screening device

Abstract not available

An evaluation of the Standardised Field Sobriety Tests for detection of impairment associated with cannabis with and without alcohol

Reports indicate that in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, 23.5% of drivers in fatal accidents had consumed drugs other than alcohol, and that 29.1% of drivers had a Blood alcohol contentration (BAC) level of 0.05% or higher. Alcohol has been detected in combination with drugs in almost 10% of cases. Cannabis was most prevalent among drugs other than alcohol detected in specimens (13.5%) (Drummer et al., 2003). The combination of drugs as an influence on road traffic accidents is becoming a growing concern and research has been conducted to identify how these drugs impair performance. Krueger & Vollrath (2000) reported that recent consumption of cannabis improved lane positioning; however, when combined with alcohol, lane position deviated, and participants drove faster. The consumption of low dose and high dose cannabis alone has also been associated with an increase in vehicle lane weaving (straddling solid and barrier lines) (Papafotiou, 2004b). Furthermore, a trend towards greater braking latency after consumption of higher doses of cannabis has been reported (Ligouri et al., 1998). Generally, alcohol has been reported to increase hazardous simulated driving, and cannabis has been reported to slow a driver’s speed (Stein et al., 1983). The findings of several studies have directly suggested that the effect of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption on driving performance may be greater for nonregular cannabis users than for regular cannabis users (Marks & MacAvoy, 1989; Wright and Terry, 2002; Papafotiou, 2004c). Wright and Terry (2002) also provide evidence to suggest that regular cannabis users may develop cross-tolerance to the effects of drugs and alcohol

The acute effects of d-amphetamine and methamphetamine on attention and psychomotor performance

It is not clear how the deleterious effects of amphetamines on driving performance are mediated in terms of select cognitive processes. The current three separate experiments assessed the acute effects of an oral dose of either 0.42-mg/kg d-amphetamine, d,l-methamphetamine and d-methamphetamine on driving-related cognitive functions in a total of 60 healthy non-fatigued adults. Three separate repeated measures counterbalanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled designs were employed in which 20 volunteers completed two treatment conditions, either d-amphetamine, d,l-methamphetamine or d-methamphetamine and placebo. Performance was assessed on a range of attentional, psychomotor and perceptual speed tasks. Mean blood concentrations at 120-, 170- and 240-min postdrug administration were 83, 98 and 96 ng/ml, respectively, for d-amphetamine, 90, 95 and 105 ng/ml, respectively, for d,l-methamphetamine and 72, 67 and 59 ng/ml, respectively, for d-methamphetamine. The amphetamines, in general, improved various aspects of attention (Digit Vigilance, Digit Symbol Substitution Test and Movement Estimation Performance) with some evidence to suggest possible enhancement in psychomotor functioning (Tracking ability) and perceptual speed (Inspection Time). The current series of studies primarily provides evidence of low-level amphetamine-related enhancement of function; however, it also provides evidence of less conservative movement estimation that might contribute to amphetamine-related road fatalities

Examining the effect of dl-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine on the standardized field sobriety tests

dl-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine are commonly used illicit drugs that are thought to impair driving ability. The Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) are utilized widely to detect impairment associated with drugs other than alcohol in drivers, although limited evidence concerning MDMA and methamphetamine consumption on SFST performance exists. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the SFSTs were a sensitive measure for identifying the presence of the specific isomer d -methamphetamine and MDMA. In a double-blind, within-subject, counter-balanced and placebo-controlled study, 58 healthy and abstinent recreational drugs users were administered three treatments: 100 mg of MDMA, 0.42 mg/kg d -methamphetamine, and placebo. For each condition the SFSTs were administered at 4 and 25 h post treatment. d -methamphetamine was not found to significantly impair SFST performance unlike MDMA, which significantly impaired SFST performance in comparison to placebo with 22% of the sample failing the test at the 4 h testing time-point. No differences were observed at the 25 h testing time-point for any of the conditions. It was concluded that the SFSTs are not efficient in identifying the presence of low level d -methamphetamine, and are significantly better at detecting the presence of MDMA at the levels assessed

The acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and methamphetamine on driving: a simulator study

Illicit drugs such as MDMA and methamphetamine are commonly abused drugs that have also been observed to be prevalent in drivers injured in road accidents. Their exact effect on driving and driving behavior has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Sixty-one abstinent recreational users of illicit drugs comprised the participant sample, with 33 females and 28 males, mean age 25.45 years. The three testing sessions involved oral consumption of 100 mg MDMA, 0.42 mg/kg methamphetamine, or a matching placebo. The drug administration was counter-balanced, double-blind, and medically supervised. At each session driving performance was assessed 3 h and 24 h post drug administration on a computerized driving simulator. At peak concentration overall impairment scores for driving (F2,118 = 9.042, p < 0.001) and signaling (F2,118 = 4.060, p = 0.020) were significantly different for the daytime simulations. Performance in the MDMA condition was worse than both the methamphetamine (p = 0.023) and placebo (p < 0.001) conditions and the methamphetamine condition was also observed to be worse in comparison to the placebo (p = 0.055). For signaling adherence, poorer signaling adherence occurred in both the methamphetamine (p = 0.006) and MDMA (p = 0.017) conditions in comparison to placebo in the daytime simulations. The findings of this study have for the first time illustrated how both MDMA and methamphetamine effect driving performance, and provide support for legislation regarding testing for the presence of illicit drugs in impaired or injured drivers as deterrents for driving under the influence of illicit drugs

The effects of acute sleep deprivation on a cross-modal divided attention task: A functional neuroimaging study

Sleepiness contributes to a large proportion of motor vehicle accidents worldwide. Driving is a complex task, which involves constant division of attention between different sensory modalities. This study aimed to examine the behavioural and neurofunctional effects of 30-hour sleep deprivation (SD) on performance of a cross-modal divided attention task. Ten male professional drivers participated (mean age 45.7 6.9 years). Drivers were screened for sleep disorders, drug use, and other medical conditions contraindicating sleep deprivation. Drivers attended two cerebral functional magnetic resonance scans; after normal sleep, and following 30-hour SD. During each session, drivers completed a task that involved selective visual and auditory attention, and divided attention..