Drug Research Methodology. Volume 5, Experimentation in Drugs and Highway Safety: The Study of Drug Effects on Skills Related to Driving

NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15250161980PDFResearch PaperJoscelyn, Kent B.Donelson, Alan C.University of Michigan. Highway Safety Research InstituteUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesDrugged driversHighway safetyDrug useAccident risk forecastingExperimentsAlcohol useDOT-HS-805-462UM-HSRI-80-20NTIS-PB80223555DOT-HS-7-01530Final reportThis report presents the findings of a workshop on experimental research in the area of drugs and highway safety. Complementing studies of drug use in different driving populations, experimentation here refers to studies performed under controlled conditions, usually in a laboratory setting, to measure the effects of drugs on skills related to driving. A cross-disciplinary panel of experts examined methodological approaches used to assess the potential of drugs to increase the likelihood of traffic crashes (risk potential). Participants identified variables important to driving performance and discussed categories of methods that measure these variable This report summarizes discussions of specific issues in experimental drug and driving research, including the relationships between the concentration of drugs in body fluids and their effects on behavior; comparability of experimental findings among different studies; the use of alcohol as a standard reference drug in experimental research, and the proper selection of experimental subjects for drug and driving research. Conclusions about the present state of knowledge and recommendations concerning the direction of future research in this area are presented. /Abstract from report summary page/129