The call for conference papers has been issued for the 16th ICADTS International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. The conference is scheduled to take place in Montréal, Québec, Canada from August 4-9, 2002. The venue will be the Palais des Congrès, Montréal's convention centre in the heart of the city.
Abstracts for both oral and poster presentations are due by October 15, 2001, and can be in the following areas: driver characteristics, pharmacology and toxicology, epidemiology, rehabilitation, prevention, driving performance, and emerging and cross-cutting issues. Authors are urged to submit abstracts via the conference web site. If you are planning a special topical session, please coordinate with Dan Mayhew, Chair of the Scientific Committee, to be certain that those planning to present at your session are scheduled together. Dan's email is (Email: danm@trafficsafetyresearch.com)
Poster presentations will be an important feature of T2002. In order to encourage high quality posters, the ICADTS Foundation will award a cash prize of $500 for the best poster. (See related article.) Poster presentations will also be included in the conference proceedings.
Notice of acceptance of abstracts will be made by January 15, 2002 and full papers are due by March 15, 2002 to allow for the published proceedings to be available at the conference. A reduced registration fee of $400 US for ICADTS members and $450 US for non-members is available until May 30th 2002. The registration fee includes the welcoming reception, lunches, the conference dinner and a copy of the conference proceedings.
The forms for submitting abstracts or additional information concerning the conference can be obtained from the conference web site at: www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/t2002, by tel: 514-395-1808, fax: 514-395-1801, or email: info@opus3.com. A second conference brochure to be issued this fall and future editions of The Reporter will provide information on the social programs and conference and hotel registration.
The ICADTS Foundation has announced that a $500 prize will be awarded for the best poster presented at T2002 in Montréal in August, 2002. The Award will continue as a tri-annual event in order to encourage scientists to present work at ICADTS conferences demonstrating new research outcomes, such as: effectiveness of existing and new programs and technologies (e.g. for prevention, rehabilitation, education, public information) to reduce mortality and morbidity brought about by misuse of alcohol and drugs by operators of vehicles in all modes of transportation; effects of driver characteristics, licit and illicit drug use and abuse, alcohol use and abuse and other circumstances (e.g. fatigue, illness) on driving performance and man-machine interaction; application of new screening, identification and quantification methods for determining the prevalence of alcohol, licit and illicit drugs use among drivers; new methods for risk assessment in crash involved populations and costs of alcohol and drug-related accidents; and issues related to research outcomes obtained in developing countries and trends in industrialized countries (e.g. new consumption patterns).
The independent jury in 2002 will consist of the Chairpersons of the Scientific Committee of the most recent past and the ongoing ICADTS Conferences and the President of ICADTS (or a representative appointed by the President). The jurors will be Hans Laurell (Sweden), Dan Mayhew (Canada) and Jim Hedlund (US). They will review all posters based on the following criteria: posters must explain research designs, applied methods and outcomes according to accepted standards used in scientific journals and must support ICADTS goals. The winner will be selected from the posters that have been accepted by the Scientific Committee of the ICADTS Conference.
MADD Canada and MADD US are planning to hold a grassroots workshop in conjunction with the 16th ICADTS International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. The workshop is scheduled to take place in Montréal, Québec, Canada on August 3, 2002. The venue will be the Palais des Congrès, Montréal's convention centre in the heart of the city.
The workshop's theme will be, Effective Change Through Grassroots Mobilization. MADD Canada's morning session, Rating the Provinces, will present a model on the marriage between grassroots mobilization and legal research. The MADD US afternoon session, How an Effective Grassroots Adult Membership Organization Establishes a Long Term Partnership with Youth, will cover new ways to support and strengthen prevention efforts. For information about the workshop, call 1-800-665-6233 within Canada or 1-905-6233 outside of Canada.
ICADTS has published a report on Guidelines on Experimental Studies Undertaken to Determine a Medicinal Drug´s Effect on Driving or Skills Related to Driving. The report was completed by a working group chaired by Prof. Dr. G. Berghaus and cochaired by Prof. Dr. B. Friedel of Germany. The working group included experts in the field of experimental research from around the world. The report summarizes recommendations concerning the proper methodology for conducting studies on medicinal drugs and driver fitness. It deals with the hypothesis, sample size, subjects, design and treatment, operationalization of driver fitness, statistical evaluation and publication of the results. A copy of the report will be mailed free to ICADTS members. For all others the cost is $20 US or 23 Euros. E-mail your name and address to: guenter.berghaus@medizin.uni-koeln.de or fax your request to +49 221 478 3496. Send a check payable to: ICADTS Foundation, to Wolf Nickel, MPI, Westendstr. 199, 80686 München, Germany.
In Spring of this year ICADTS published a report on Prescribing and Dispensing Guidelines for Medicinal Drugs affecting Driving Performance. The working group assessed the available knowledge regarding a graded level warning systems, dissemination of information to target populations (patient-driver, physician, pharmacist, authorities with responsibilities in road safety and public health), prescribing and dispensing the least impairing medicinal drug, and information that will allow patients to be more aware of recognizing signs of impaired driving performance. Several 'tools' for ensuring that information concerning driving impairing properties is being effectively communicated to different target populations have been discussed and several conclusions and recommendations are presented. The report was completed by a group of experts from around the world chaired by Prof. Dr. Javier Alvarez of Spain and co-chaired by Dr. Han de Gier of The Netherlands. A copy of the report will be mailed free to ICADTS members on request. For all others the cost is 23 Euros (or $ 20). E-mail your name and address to: degiercs@wxs.nl or fax your request to +31 162 452960. Send a cheque payable to: ICADTS Foundation to Wolf Nickel, MPI, Westendstr. 199, 80686 München, Germany.
ICADTS recognizes long-term, outstanding contributions to the field of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety through its Widmark and Haddon Awards. Individual Widmark Awards honor those who have made an outstanding, sustained and meritorious contribution to the field that has led to international standing and respect. Candidates must have an impressive record of accomplishments that signify preeminence in the field. Institutional Widmark Awards are conferred on outstanding non-governmental research organizations that have contributed to the advancement of science in areas related to alcohol, drugs and traffic safety. The awards are named in honor of Professor Erik M. P. Widmark of the University of Lund in western Sweden, whose comprehensive research work during the first half of the 20th century touched on all the aspects of the pharmacology of alcohol. The Widmark Award is the highest honor that ICADTS can confer on individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to our basic knowledge.
The Haddon Award recognizes those who have advocated scientifically based changes to public policy which have reduced the adverse effects of alcohol or other drugs on traffic safety. The award is named in honor of Dr. William Haddon, Jr., a physician and epidemiologist, who was a pioneer in the highway safety field. As a researcher and administrator, he contributed substantially to the development and application of effective methods to reduce motor vehicle injuries by insisting that the field be based on science.
The ICADTS Awards Committee is pleased to invite nominations for individual and institutional Widmark awards, and individual Haddon awards. Recipients will receive their awards at T'2002, the 16th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety in Montréal, in August 2002.
Nominations for either award are to be submitted to: Hans Laurell, Chair, ICADTS Award Committee, Swedish National Road Administration, S-781 87 Borlange, SWEDEN, Fax: +46 24 375665, Email: Hans.laurell@vv.se. Nominations must be made by a full member of ICADTS and seconded by a full member. Candidates for the Widmark awards can be nominated for their accomplishments in any of the following areas: behavioral toxicology, human psychopharmacology, forensic toxicology, epidemiology, law and law enforcement, technology, public information and education, public policy, legal medicine and social or behavioral sciences.
The letter of nomination must provide a summary of the credentials and achievements that make the candidate a suitable recipient of the Award. The letter must be signed by those making the nomination and must be accompanied by (1) a letter from the candidate -- or the duly authorized representative of the agency in the case of an institutional award -- certifying their acceptance of the nomination and (2) a complete, detailed curriculum vitae in the case of nominees for an individual award and relevant supporting documentation in the case of an institutional award. It should be made clear to all potential nominees that, while nomination is itself an indication of high standing in the field of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety, it does not necessarily imply that an award will be made. All documentation for a nomination must be received by the Chair of the Awards Committee on or before November 30, 2001.
The ICADTS Working Group on Alcohol Interlocks position paper has been approved. The report, Position Paper on Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices, No. 1, summarizes important features of ignition interlock programs and suggests new ways to think about how program features might advance public safety beyond the current implementation models. It is directed toward professionals who have responsibility to design, implement and enforce interlock policy. The report does not comprehensively review the literature, but reflects the literature and draws attention to key issues that legislators, advocates, detractors, law enforcement, and government officials may find to be of value as they work to devise the most sensible programs and regulations. A critical review of the research literature is expected to be ready for publication in August 2002 and will carry a subtitle, Research Review, No. 2.
The report points out that breath alcohol ignition interlock devices, when embedded in a comprehensive monitoring and service program, lead to 40-95% reductions in the rate of repeat DWI offenses of convicted DWI offenders. In the U.S. and Canada, which have the most interlocks in service, only a few percent of eligible offenders ever enter an interlock program, so interlocks have not yet made an important contribution to highway safety. This may change soon as many more states, provinces, and nations are preparing interlock legislation.
The working group was chaired by Dr. Paul R. Marques and included experts from various countries around the world. ICADTS members can obtain a free copy of the report by contacting Dr. Marques at Email: marques@pire.org, or Fax: 301-755-2799. Others can receive a copy of the report by sending a $20 check payable: to PIRE, to Dr. Paul R. Marques, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 11710 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300, Calverton, MD 20705 USA.
A second report on interlocks has been issued by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation. The report, Best Practices for Alcohol Interlock Programs, is a guide for policymakers on how to develop an effective alcohol interlock program. It also urges all jurisdictions to implement an alcohol interlock program to help combat drinking and driving. The report is the result of an international workshop that was organized and chaired by Dr. Douglas J. Bierness. A copy of the full report is available on the TIRF website at: www.trafficinjuryresearch.com, or in hard copy form for $25 CAN. Request should be made to: Email: barbarak@trafficinjuryresearch.com, or Fax: 613-238-5292.
Sobriety checkpoints have been shown to be an extremely effective enforcement method for reducing impaired driving. When checkpoints are carried out routinely, they can result in a 20 percent reduction in alcohol-related fatal crashes. A recent study supported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that despite their effectiveness, checkpoints are used infrequently in most states in the US that permit them. While they are permitted in 37 states, only 11 states report implementing checkpoints on a weekly basis.
Sobriety checkpoints involve stopping all vehicles or using a systematic method for selecting vehicles to be stopped. Drivers are questioned briefly but cannot be subjected to alcohol testing unless there is probable cause to suspect that the driver has been drinking (e.g., the odor of alcohol). Random breath testing is not permitted by the US Constitution.
The study authors, Jim Fell, Susan Ferguson, Allan Williams, and Michele Fields, compared five states that carry out frequent sobriety checkpoints to five states that used this strategy infrequently. The five states that used checkpoints frequently shared some common characteristics, including the use of a moderate number of police officers for checkpoint operations, and support by citizen activist groups. The five states with infrequent checkpoints also shared some common characteristics, including the use of a large number of officers for checkpoints and a lack of pressure from citizen groups. The report concludes that barriers to the use of checkpoints can be overcome through education and training and that enlightened task forces and citizen activist groups can provide the motivation to use this effective enforcement tool.
For a copy of the Report, Why Aren't Sobriety Checkpoints Widely Adopted as an Enforcement Strategy? write: Publications, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22201 USA.
The ICADTS Foundation has announced that it will allocate its funds to meet its goal of collecting and disseminating essential information in the field of alcohol,drugs and traffic safety on a global basis. Funds will be spent in the following areas:
No foundation or ICADTS funds have been or will be used to support travel or other expenses of Executive Board members.
Those wishing to apply for an ICADTS Foundation grant, should contact the Foundation Secretary, Dr. Elisabeth Wells-Parker, email: ICADTS@ssrc.msstate.edu to obtain a copy of the application guidelines. The guidelines will also be available from the ICADTS web site.
The ICADTS Executive Board is in discussion with the International Traffic Medicine Association, publisher of the Journal of Traffic Medicine (JTM), to explore the possibility of providing a copy of JTM to all ICADTS members as part of their dues. Such an arrangement had existed in the past, but was terminated a number of years ago. Under new ITMA President Leonard Evans and JTM Editor David C. Viano, steps are underway to enlarge and improve JTM.
In order for JTM to be of interest and use to ICADTS members, it will have to include high quality, peer-reviewed papers on the subject of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety. In that regard, ICADTS members are encouraged to submit papers to JTM. Only by the involvement of our members, will JTM truly become a journal that successfully meets our needs.
Those wishing to submit material for consideration, can send it to Dr. David C. Viano, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Traffic Medicine, GM R&D, Mail Code 480-106-200, Warren, MI 48090-9055, USA. Tel: 810-986-1740, Fax: 810-986-0294, Email: david.viano@gm.com.
September 19-21, 2001
Traffic Safety on Three Continents-Moscow, Russia
Contact Secretariat: VTI, Box 426, S-581 04, Linköping, Sweden, Email: info@vti-utveckling.se, Fax: +46-13 12 61 62 or Dr. Richard Pain, Fax: 202-334-2003, Email: rpain@nas.edu.
September 23-26, 2001
45th AAAM Annual Scientific Conference-San Antonio, TX, USA
For information contact: Irene Herzau, Tel: 847-844-3880, Fax: 847-844-3884, Email: AAAM1@aol.com. Website: www.carcrash.org.
October 24-26, 2001
57th Annual National Traffic Court Seminar-Charleston, SC
Contact the Committee on Traffic Court Program, ABA Judicial Division, 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, Tel: 312-988-5742, Fax: 312-988-5709.
December 2-7, 2001
The Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol, Drugs and Highway Safety: Testing, Research and Litigation, Bloomington, IN USA
Contact Darlena Lindsay, Email: dlindsay@indiana.edu, Tel: 812-855-1783, Fax: 812-855-7542.
January 13-17, 2002
80th Annual Meeting of the U. S. Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC USA
Special alcohol and drug sessions will be featured. Meetings of the TRB Committee on Alcohol, Other Drugs and Transportation and the ICADTS Executive Board will also be scheduled.
Contact Dr. Richard Pain, Tel: 202-334-2960, Fax: 202-334-2003, Email: rpain@nas.edu.
August 3, 2002
Effective Change Through Grassroots Mobilization-Montréal, Québec, Canada
For information about the workshop or to register, call MADD at 1-800-665-6233 within Canada or 1-905-6233 outside of Canada.
August 4-9, 2002
16th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, T02 - Montréal, Québec, Canada
For information visit the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec Web site: www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/t2002.
September 22-25, 2002
18th World Congress of the International Traffic Medicine Association-Cairo, Egypt
Information available from Congress Secretariat, Misr Travel, 1, Talaat Harb Street, PO Box 1000, Cairo, Egypt, Email: itma2002@ie-eg.com, Fax: 202-392-4440.