ICADTS and the impaired driving field have lost a founding father. Prof. Emeritus Robert F. Borkenstein, inventor of the Breathalyzer, Widmark Laureate, retired Indiana State Police captain, and chairman of Indiana University's Department of Police Administration, died Aug. 10 at his Bloomington, Ind., home following a long illness. He was 89. Prof. Borkenstein was born Aug. 31, 1912 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He was an early leader and long-term president of ICADTS, beginning when it was still called the International Committee on Alcohol and Traffic Safety.
Prof. Borkenstein's Breathalyzer and contribution to alcohol research and traffic safety brought him worldwide acclaim. His alcohol and most recently, drug courses continue today at Indiana University's Center for Studies of Law in Action. A modern version of the Breathalyzer is still used in New Jersey and Canada, and Prof. Borkenstein's 1962 Grand Rapids Study became the most influential epidemiological study of the role of alcohol in traffic accidents. It is still cited today. Prof. Borkenstein published widely. His awards include recognition from the Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China; National Safety Council, and Minister of Justice in Canada. He organized and was Chairman of the 4th ICADTS conference in 1965.
British Medical Association executive secretary Dr. John Havard, asked in 1985 to sum up Prof. Borkenstein's legacy, said, "If I were asked to identify the person who has made the biggest contribution toward the reduction of death and disability from motor accidents associated with alcohol, I would have no hesitation in identifying Bob Borkenstein." A special tribute to Bob will appear in an upcoming issue of the Reporter.
T2002 organizers welcomed 400 delegates from 22 countries to Montréal, Québec, Canada for the 16th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Conference participants were welcomed by Jacques Brind Amour, Conference Convenor and Chairman of Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and ICADTS President Barry Sweedler. They heard plenary addresses by the Canadian Minister of Transport, David Collenette, Québec's Minister of Transport, Serge Ménard, Administrator of U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Dr. Jeffrey Runge, and researchers Richard Jessor, Frank Yates, Jean-Marie De Koninck, and Louise Nadeau. Widmark Awards were presented to Dr. Jack McLean from the Road Accident Research Unit at the University of Adelaide in South Australia and to Dr. Ralph Hingson from the Boston University School of Public Health for their outstanding research and advocacy in impaired driving. The first Haddon Award was presented to Belgians, Prof. Alain Verstraete of the University Hospital in Ghent and Dr. Viviane Maes of the Academic Hospital of the Free University of Brussels, for their leadership in the area of drug impaired driving. Over 200 papers were presented in the technical sessions. The highlight of the social program was the conference banquet where attendees saw a spectacular performance of Cirque Eos. At the closing session, Johan de Gier, ICADTS President-elect, gave a summary of the conference and discussed new directions and Jim Hedlund, Coordinator of the ICADTS working groups, provided an overview and future plans of each of the groups. Special thanks for an outstanding conference goes to Claude Dussault, Conference Coordinator and his team and to Dan Mayhew, Chair of the Scientific Committee. Conference proceedings on CD can be obtained from SAAQ for $40 CAN. Printed copies will be available soon for $150 CAN. Contact Mr. Dupuis at: michel.dupuis.dg@saaq.gouv.qc.ca, tel:418-528-4291. They will be posted on the web later this fall.
After this stimulating and enjoyable conference, it is time to mark your calendars for August 8-13, 2004, when the 17th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety - T2004, will take place in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. John Oliver of the University of Glasgow and chair of the Organizing Committee, made a presentation in Montréal providing an introduction to plans for the scientific program as well as a glimpse of Scotland and the beautiful city of Glasgow and its excellent conference facilities. The Committee plans to include two additional key areas for the conference, police enforcement and work-related transport issues. These topics, along with the others typically included in ICADTS conferences should make T2004 very rewarding. The conference website is now up and running at www.icadts2004.com.
ICADTS is considering establishing a new working group to study the scope of the problem of unlicensed drivers and possible prevention and deterrence strategies. Anyone interested in working on this issue, contact Bob Voas at: voas@pire.org.
Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Administrator of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration challenged ICADTS members in his plenary address in Montréal. Dr. Runge pointed to the disappointing increase in impaired driving fatalities in 2001, for the second year in a row. He asked for assistance from the international research community to better understand the problem and identify effective strategies for reducing it. Dr. Runge reported that recent increases in impaired driving fatalities have occurred in a political and social context in which resources have been diminished - especially in light of security concerns. Decision-makers in the U.S. tend to underestimate the level of political will and public concern about impaired driving and underestimate the effectiveness of available countermeasures.
Dr. Runge asked for ICADTS's help in overcoming some of these problems. In addition he named a variety of research areas that could be useful to the government. These include data about the efficacy of various countermeasures, especially license actions, vehicle sanctions, tiered penalties based on BAC, and designated driver programs. Other areas of interest and concern include existing public knowledge and attitudes about drug impaired driving, the nature and scope of the drug impaired driving problem, and the effectiveness of drug warning labels. He pointed to needed information about repeat offenders, especially ways to deal with the increase in test refusals. He made a particular plea for better sharing of information among countries, with an emphasis on harmonizing data collection procedures and reporting protocols, especially for fatalities.
A full list of Dr. Runge's questions and concerns for ICADTS will be posted on the ICADTS website. ICADTS will be considering how its working groups and individual members can help respond to these challenges.
A session at T2002 in Montréal presented data on a little-known area of traffic safety - alcohol involvement in recreational vehicle fatalities. The session was sponsored by the ICADTS working group on recreational vehicles, chaired by Doug Bierness (CA). Dorothy Begg (NZ) discussed the findings of her study on off-road accidents involving ATVs (usually on farms), bicycles, and snowmobiles in New Zealand. The fatality database for New Zealand recorded 21-26 such deaths each year (primarily among bicyclists) from 1994-1998, but only five in which alcohol involvement was confirmed.
James McDonnell (CA) of the Ontario Provincial Police described the activities of the Snowmobile, ATV, and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) patrols that carry out enforcement on trails and waterways in Ontario. A significant level of alcohol involvement was found in these fatalities despite laws that make operating these vehicles with a BAC over .08 illegal.
Doug Bierness presented findings of a study of recreational vehicle fatalities in Canada, including snowmobiling, bicycling, and ATVs. The Canadian fatality database reported 2,998 such fatalities in 1987-1999, as compared to 26,883 fatalities in automobile crashes during that time period. There was a high alcohol testing rate for the recreational fatalities, ranging from 70-82 percent. Alcohol involvement rates were 71 percent for snowmobiles, 25 percent for bicycles, and 56 percent for ATVs, as compared to 43 percent for automobile crashes. The largest percentage of fatalities had a BAC of .15% or above. While this was not a case-controlled study, it appears that particularly in snowmobiling, alcohol plays a significant role in deaths.
Gordon Smith (USA) presented his recent case controlled study of drownings associated with recreational boating in Virginia and North Carolina. He reported that of the 221 deaths studied, 55 percent were positive for alcohol. Of these 27 percent had BACs of .10% or greater, and 18 percent were at .15% or greater. The risk of a drowning fatality in boating increases rapidly with BAC - more rapidly, in fact, than the risk of a fatal crash on the highway. It is worth noting that fewer than half of the deaths were the operators of the boats. Thus, both boat operators and passengers are at greater risk when they drink since many drowning fatalities occur when a passenger falls overboard and are not necessarily related to improper operation of the boat.
The working group on recreational vehicles invites participation from others who are interested in exploring this area of safety. The full papers are included in the conference proceedings.
The ICADTS Executive Board and the general membership met during T2002 in Montréal. Action was taken on a number of important issues, including: an official ICADTS journal and the venue for T2007.
The Executive Board approved the adoption of the new Journal of Traffic Injury Prevention (TIP) as the official ICADTS journal. Other sponsors of the journal include the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, the International Traffic Medicine Association, and the International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Impact. A subscription to the journal will be included as part of ICADTS dues in 2003 on a trial basis. ICADTS will be naming additional members to the TIP Editorial Board and a special alcohol and drugs issue will be published. ICADTS members are encouraged to submit articles to the journal. Questions about the journal and expression of interest in serving on the editorial board should be directed to Barry Sweedler (email: sweedlb@hotmail.com).
The second major issue discussed during the meetings was the venue for T2007, the next ICADTS conference following Glasgow in 2004. The Executive Board recommended and the membership approved the offer from the Washington State Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau to sponsor the conference in Seattle, Washington, U.S. in August or September of 2007. The bid was presented by Dr. Barry Logan. A delegation from the executive board had met with Dr. Logan and others on his team in the proposed conference venue in June. The delegation was most impressed with the organizing team and the venue and welcomed the opportunity for the first ICADTS conference in the U.S. since 1989.
Another topic discussed at the meetings was the ICADTS web site. The site is maintained by Craig Kloeden of the Road Accident Research Unit at the University of Adelaide in South Australia. Dr. Kloeden reported that the site receives 280 hits each day, with the working group reports being the most popular topic on the site. A variety of potential upgrades for the site were discussed. Dr. Kloeden received thanks from ICADTS for his excellent work as Webmaster since the inception of the web site.
The Board also approved a proposal from the ICADTS Foundation to add a stipend program for those working in the field from developing and transitional countries. This program will allow them to participate in ICADTS activities, including attending the T conferences. Details about the program, and an application form, will be posted on the ICADTS web sight in the near future.
A poster created by Mark Vollrath and Hans-Peter Krüger of Germany was the winner of the $500 ICADTS Foundation Award for best poster at T2002 in Montréal. The poster, entitled Comparison between behavioral signs of drug impairment and driving performance, presented data on the detection of behavioral signs of impairment from cannabis, amphetamines, and ecstasy as measured in a driving simulator. The full paper is included in the conference proceedings.
The award was created by the ICADTS Foundation as a way of encouraging high quality poster presentations and generating greater interest in viewing posters during the conference. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Vollrath said that the discussions he had with conference attendees who stopped by his poster were more interesting and stimulating than those possible during oral presentations. He recommended that other presenters consider poster presentations in future conferences.
Recent increases in impaired driving deaths in the U.S. have prompted three new reports recommending top priority strategies for addressing the problem. The reports published by Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety, and the RAND Corporation each suggested key approaches.
The MADD report, entitled It's Time to Get MADD All Over Again: Resuscitating the Nations Efforts to Prevent Impaired Driving, was based on its recent summit meeting in which researchers and policy makers discussed the actions most likely to result in immediate reductions in impaired driving fatalities. Barry Sweedler and Kathryn Stewart drafted the report. Top recommendations included increased enforcement, especially sobriety checkpoints; enactment of primary enforcement seat belt laws; tougher, more comprehensive sanctions for high risk drivers; development of a National Traffic Safety Fund; reduction of underage drinking; increased taxes on beer; and reinvigoration of court monitoring programs. The report is available on the MADD website, www.madd.org or call 214-744-6233.
Drunk Driving: Seeking Additional Solutions, recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety was prepared by Jim Hedlund and Anne McCartt based on literature reviews and interviews with knowledgeable people around the country. The recommendations included strategies in three different areas: 1) Establish a program that monitors the drunk driving control system in each state; 2) Reinvigorate state drunk driving task forces; and 3) Revise state drunk driving grants. The report discusses how these strategies can establish a structure that will supply the information, management, and funding needed for progress. The report can be found at www.aaafoundation.org or call 202-683-5944.
The RAND Corporation study by Deborah Cohen and colleagues reported on alcohol-related traffic deaths in 97 U.S. cities. The results indicated that cities in states with greater restrictions on alcohol access experienced fewer alcohol-related traffic fatalities. The report, published in the February issue of Preventive Medicine, and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recommended greater control on access to alcohol, penalties for violations of liquor laws, stricter licensure requirements for alcohol outlets, and the wider use of sobriety checkpoints. For more information, contact RWJF at 301-652-1558.
The arrest of two America West pilots in Miami in July on suspicion of attempting to operate an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol indicates the need for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the industry and labor organizations to review their rules and procedures to prevent flying while impaired.
The America West plane had left the gate on a flight to Phoenix, before it was ordered back by air traffic controllers, based on reports from security checkers that the pilots' breath smelled of alcohol. The two pilots were arrested, after tests by local police showed the captain's blood alcohol level to be 0.091% and the first officer's at 0.084%. Those levels are above the Florida legal driving limit of .08% and the FAA standard of .04%. The airline, saying it had "zero-level tolerance" of pilot substance abuse suspended and then fired the two pilots.
While not a common problem, instances of flying while impaired continue to occur. Perhaps the most widely reported case occurred in 1990, when three Northwest Airline crew members flew from Fargo, North Dakota to Minneapolis, Minnesota after heavy drinking the previous night. The captain (BAC of 0.13%), first officer (BAC 0.06%) and flight engineer (BAC of 0.08%) were all sentenced to prison. The FAA has a prevention and identification program in place: Random tests for alcohol found nine commercial pilots positive in 2000, nine in 2001 and nine to date this year. The FAA also now checks pilots for driving while under the influence arrests. These checks have led to the revocation or suspension of the licenses of 230 pilots in 2000 and 220 in 2001.
There continues to be alcohol involved general aviation accidents, but records do not list a single passenger air carrier crash in the United States caused by alcohol use. However, at least one such crash occurred in any other country. In 1961, an Aero Oy (which later became Finnair) DC-3 crashed, killing all of the 22 passengers and three crew members onboard. The pilot's BAC was found to be at least 0.20% and the copilot's was 0.156%.
While the FAA, the Air Line Pilots Association and the industry have a very good substance abuse rehabilitation program, the Miami incident should prompt all parties involved to examine the current system for preventing alcohol impaired pilots from flying and make whatever changes are deemed appropriate. (Sources: Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2002; ICADTS Reporter, Vol. 1, No. 4 and Vol. 2, No. 1, 1990 and 1991)
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has published its second report from a major study designed to identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system for dealing with hard core drinking drivers in the US. The report, Improvements for dealing with Hard Core Drinking Drivers: Prosecution, written by Robyn Robertson and Herb Simpsn, deals with the need for improvements in the prosecution phase of the DWI system. TIRF surveyed 350 prosecutors from 35 states and identified the top problems they reported. The problem most frequently reported was a lack of evidence, often created by suspects' refusal to cooperate with law enforcement because penalties for refusal are relatively light. The study was funded by the Anheuser-Busch Company. The first report from this study dealt with problems confronted by police. (See Reporter, Vol. 13, No. 1.) Both reports are available on the TIRF website, www.trafficinjuryresearch.com.
October 6-9, 2002
Global Safety Conference-Portoro, Slovenia
Conference will cover the reduction and prevention of injuries at work (including workplace drug testing), in traffic, at home and during leisure time.
Contact the Institute for Occupational Safety, Tel: 386 1 432 02 53, ext.217, email: kristina.abrahamsberg@zvd.si, website: www.zvd.si
October 9-11, 2002
58th Annual National Traffic Court Seminar, Reno, Nevada, USA
Contact Rebecca King at the American Bar Association, Tel:312-988-5742, Fax: 312-988-5709, email: kingre@staff.abanet.org.
October 29, 2002
Third Annual Interlock Symposium, Vero Beach, Florida, USA
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation is the organizer. It is sponsored by Alcohol Countermeasures System and cosponsored by ICADTS.
Contact Doug Beirness for information at Tel: 613-238-5235, email: dougb@trafficinjuryresearch.com, or website: ignitioninterlocksymposium.com
December 16, 2002 and May 18-23, 2003
The Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol, Drugs and Highway Safety: Testing, Research and Litigation, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Contact the Center for Studies of Law in Action, Indiana University, Sycamore Hall 302, Bloomington, IN 47404, Tel: 812-855-1783, Fax: 812-855-7542, Web site: www.indiana.edu/~lawactn
January 12-16, 2003
82nd 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 8-13, 2004
17th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, T2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom
For information contact Meeting Makers, 76 Southbrae Drive, Glasgow G13 1PP, Scotland, U.K., Tel: 44-141-434-1500, Fax:44-141-434-1519, email: icadts2004@meetingmakers.co.uk, or visit the conference websight: www.ICADTS2004.com