A message from the Dr. Paul M Williams, of the ICADTS 2004 Ltd, Organising Committee:
The Organising Committee [Drs. John Oliver, Paul Williams and Andrew Clayton], together with the Secretariat, Meeting Makers Ltd, met in October for major planning discussions. This meeting, held at the conference venue itself, was also attended by Dr. Han De Gier, who will be ICADTS President in August 2004.
The Call for Papers will be released in May 2003, and the subsequent procedures for submission, review, notification and proceedings publication will all be carried out electronically. However, a hard copy book of all abstracts will be issued to delegates as they register.
The conference itself will largely follow the same themes as before, but with some important new aspects and additions. The Organising Committee is determined to make T2004 a hands-on meeting; taking much of the knowledge that resides in many ICADTS members' heads, and putting it into the hands of the people who deal with the problem day-to-day, on a practical level, so attracting a new set of delegates. Accordingly, there will be four one-day (10:00 - 17:00) workshops, which will be available to all conference attendees as a part of the all-inclusive package that we are offering, but which will also be available for purchase by day-delegates. These four workshops will cover Policing and Enforcement Issues (target audience - Police); Legal Issues (target audience lawyers and legislators); Licit Drugs and Driving (for police, forensic toxicologists and medical examiners); and Work Related Transport (for heath and safety personnel, fleet managers and union representatives from all sectors of transport - road, rail, sea and air).
Personal networking is a vital aspect of any conference, and therefore, so too, the social events. T2004 will open with a reception in the venue on Sunday 8 August 2004. There will then be a civic reception at the very interesting Museum of Transport on the Tuesday, and an away-day on Wednesday the 11th. There will be a choice of activities for the away-day, depending on whether your interest is, for instance, looking over old castles/houses, playing golf or tasting whisky. But there will be something for everyone. Thursday night is banquet night, with a Scottish theme: and kilts will be expected for all the men. We will arrange for your appropriate tartan.
There will also be a busy program of events for accompanying persons, while everyone else is hard at work.
The Organising Committee is working actively to draw in delegates both old and new. And we particularly wish to attract new visitors from the developing countries - where the huge toll of alcohol-related crashes places an extra burden on often already-stretched resources. We are therefore very grateful to the Board of ICADTS for agreeing to offer stipends to selected individuals, to assist them in attending this Conference.
T2004 is going to be a Conference to remember by all who attend - scientifically and socially. So make T2004, Glasgow, Scotland, a part of a British or European holiday, perhaps taking in the world famous Edinburgh Festival, that takes place the following week.
The conference website is up and running at: www.icadts2004.com, so please visit, take a look and register your interest in participation. We are grateful to the Department for Transport, Great Britain, for so generously sponsoring T2004. Anyone else interested in sponsorship or exhibiting at the meeting should contact the organising secretariat by email, at: icadts2004@meetingmakers.co.uk. See you all in Scotland, in August 2004!
The TRB Committee on Alcohol, Other Drugs and Transportation has planned a very comprehensive program for the TRB Annual meeting in January in Washington. Eight separate sessions will cover such topics as:
1) Putting Research Findings into Practice: Opening Dialogue and Overcoming Barriers; 2) Rural DWI Problem: An International Perspective; 3) Alcohol and Traffic Safety Research (poster session); 4) Young Scientists Discuss Contemporary Issues in Alcohol Impaired Driving, Teen Driving, and Driver Improvement; 5) Drunk-Driving and Other Alcohol Problems: Prevention, Screening and Brief Interventions; 6) Implied Consent BAC Test Refusal: Major Problem? Minor Problem? What needs to be done?; 7) Reflections on the History of the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving Field, and Future Directions: Views of Three Emeritus Members.
All the sessions and meetings will be held at the Marriott Hotel. The first session begins at 8:00 AM on Monday, January 13 with the last session ending at noon on Thursday, January 16. It is hoped that those planning to come to the meeting will arrange their travel plans to enable them to attend all of these important sessions. The meeting of the committee will be held on Monday evening at 7:30 PM in Balcony D.
The ICADTS Executive Board will meet Wednesday at 2:30 PM. All ICADTS members are invited to attend.
The 5th International Global Safety Conference took place in Portoroñ, Slovenia, October 6-8, 2002. The main topics were Road Traffic Safety Programs and Workplace Drug Testing. The conference was organized by the Slovene Institute of Occupational Safety, Slovene Road Safety Council, Slovene Office of Safety and Health, Slovene Office for Drugs, German Traffic Safety Council and the European Workplace Drug Testing Society. ICADTS members played a prominent role in the conference. Dr. Günter Kroj of Germany chaired the traffic safety section; Dr. Alain Verstraete of Belgium, the recent co-winner of the ICADTS Haddon Award, presented a paper on the Effects of Drugs on Human Performance; ICADTS President Barry Sweedler discussed ICADTS activities and presented the results of U.S. workplace drug testing; and Dr. Majda Zorec Karlov_ek of Slovenia, one of the conference organizers, presented a number of papers on drug testing in the workplace and in road traffic. To obtain a copy of the proceedings on CD, email: kristina.abrahamsberg@zvd.si.
A number of presentations at the conference discussed the traffic safety record in Slovenia. Approximately 2,000,000 people live in Slovenia. The number of people killed in traffic crashes has declined steadily over the past decade. There were 278 people killed in crashes in 2001, down from 505 in 1994. At the same time, the percentage of alcohol-related fatal crashes increased from 27.8% in 1997 to 38.7% in 2001.
The 3rd Annual Ignition Interlock Symposium was conducted in Vero Beach, Florida on October 28 and 29, 2002. The theme of the symposium was Enhancing Effectiveness. The largest conference of its type, the symposium explored the latest developments in ignition interlock programs, service delivery and legislative issues. The symposium covered such topics as: monitoring participants, enhancing participation, predictors of success and failure, mandatory or voluntary participation, and evaluations of interlock programs. Interlock programs in operation in a number of U.S. states and Canadian provinces, as well as in Sweden and Australia were discussed. There was also discussion of the voluntary use of interlocks by operators of commercial vehicle fleets. A panel on emerging issues included a prosecutor and a judge.
The symposium was organized by Dr. Doug Beirness of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada (TIRF) and moderated by TIRF President Dr. Herb Simpson. It was sponsored by Alcohol Countermeasure Systems and Lifesaver Interlock. ICADTS was a co-sponsor. ICADTS Alcohol Interlocks Working Group Chairman Dr. Paul Marques of the U.S. and other members of the working group played prominent roles in the symposium. The presentations will be posted on the TIRF web site: www.trafficinjuryresearch.com, and a report will be issued.
Since October 1, 2001, drivers involved in a fatal crash in France are tested for illegal drugs. This detection was extended to crashes with injuries, on special request of police officers on November 15, 2001. This law was implemented as a way of evaluating the scope of the problem, but the results of the analysis are transmitted to the prosecutors who can decide if prosecution is warranted. Those prosecutions are not actually based on a specific offence of drugged driving, but the justice courts can apply stronger sanctions for the other linked offences or apply the offence of putting somebody in danger.
A new law being considered by the French Parliament, would make drug detection mandatory for all crashes with injuries, and would allow the police officers to request the detection of drugs in any other crash, violation of driving rules, and even other circumstances, including random tests. This law would also create a specific offence of driving under the influence of drugs, with sanctions comparable to drunk driving.
The detection of drugs is conducted by medical practitioners at the request of police officers. Actually, there are no impairment evaluation by the police officers. Those evaluations will be led by medical doctors. There is an initial screening using field sobriety tests followed by a urine test, with confirmation in blood (or directly in blood if the driver is dead, injured, or unable to give a urine sample.. All the results will be collected in an epidemiological study, under the control of the French Institute on Drugs and Addictions. The forms used by the police officers and the medical doctors were developed by ICADTS Treasurer Dr. Charles Mercier-Guyon, who contributed this article, and Dr. M. Mallaret.
Most of the discussions concerning this legislation came about following the ICADTS conference held in Annecy in 1997.
The ICADTS Executive Board recently elected new members to ICADTS. They include: Dr. Steven A. Bloch, Mr. Ray Daugherty, Ms. Laurel J. Farrell and Dr. Joel Grube from the U.S. and Jeremy Davey and Dr. Michael Lenne from Australia. Each new member was nominated by two active ICADTS members and approved by the Membership Committee and the Executive Board. In addition, Dr. Christine Moore from the U.S. was approved as an Affiliate Member. Colleagues working in the field of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety who are interested in becoming members of ICADTS, can obtain information on ICADTS membership and an application, by checking the ICADTS website or by contacting the ICADTS Secretary, Dr. Elizabeth Wells-Parker, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA, Fax: 662-325-7966 or by Email at: bwparker@ssrc.msstate.edu. The entire membership process can now be conducted on-line. Current dues for ICADTS are $60 per year and includes a subscription to the journal, Traffic Injury Prevention.
The U.S. National Safety Council convened a Symposium on graduated driver licensing (GDL) in Chatham Massachusetts November 5-7. The theme of the symposium was Documenting the Science of GDL. GDL is a system in place in much of the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and other countries by which young and novice drivers are introduced to full driver licensure through a series of stages with gradually increasing privileges. The symposium, which received funding from General Motors, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Nationwide Insurance, brought together researchers, policy-makers, and advocates to discuss the current state of knowledge about GDL.
ICADTS Executive Board member Dr. Allan Williams was the keynote speaker, presenting information about the nature of young drivers and the risks they pose in traffic. Other speakers addressed the provisions of GDL that appear to be most effective, including nighttime driving restrictions and restrictions on the number and age of passengers. Other presentations discussed the nature of the learning process and the role of parents in supervising driving practice. Carol Carmody, the Acting Chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, announced a new recommendation by the Board regarding the adoption of GDL more widely and the specification of key provisions. Dr. Dorothy Begg of the University of Otago in New Zealand, presented the history of GDL in New Zealand, one of the early pioneers in GDL. Presenters and participants, including John Cullerton, State Senator from Illinois, discussed barriers to implementation of GDL systems, how these barriers can be overcome, and the role of researchers in this process.
The National Safety Council plans to publish the background papers and a summary of the discussion in an upcoming issue of Journal of Safety Research. For additional information about the symposium, contact Bill Combs at NSC at: combsb@nsc.org.
Since the 1950's, all auto insurance companies in Finland have included a surcharge on insurance premiums to fund traffic safety programs in that country. In 2001, this fund totalled 5.5 million Euros (1.1% of the premium income). A major part of these funds go to the Central Organisation for Road Safety, i.e. for public road safety information programs. Another part, about 1 million Euros, goes for the investigation of traffic crashes and maintenance of crash databases . Twenty-one safety teams investigate all fatal crashes and some other crashes, approximately 500 annually. The investigations are led by the Traffic Safety Committee of Insurance Companies (VALT) of the Finnish Motor Insurers' Centre in co-op-eration with safety organisations and researchers. In force since October 2001, a separate piece of legislation gives the investigators the right to investigate crashes on-site and access both public and private records. The activity is steered by the Accident Investigation Delegation supervised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The method is a stan-dardised, multidisciplinary, in-depth investigation on-site, usually beginning with 1-2 hours of the crash. A police member acts as a team leader and interviews the drivers together with a psychologist. A vehicle engineer inspects the vehicles, a road specialist the road features and a forensic pathologist reviews the medical records. The team also obtains the po-lice inquest report and the forensic autopsy records. The accident is analysed and the team draws up a final report, which describes the event and identifies the key event(s) and background risk factors of the crash, the injuries and their sources, use and effect of safety devices and safety suggestions. This final report is available, without identification details, for public release. Data from these investigations is made part of a major database that is made available to researchers and public safety authorities free of charge.
Results of these investigations and their analysis have led to many traffic safety improvements and the flow of information stimulates safety work. The activity also increases cooperation and knowledge at local level. Accident sites have been improved and the reports have aided the courts. The research reports and proposals are released to the public, and the data are used for education, traffic enforcement, road development, environmental improvements and public awareness campaigns. Members of the road accident investigation teams are encouraged to use the data in their own safety work (eg public information, traffic enforcement and local improvements) and the information is also naturally available to insurance companies for their own safety work.
In a paper presented at T2002 in Montréal, Dr. Antti Pentillä, reported that there has been a 35% decline in fatal crashes overall and a 45% decline in alcohol-related fatal crashes in Finland between 1990/91 and 1999/2000. This steady decline in fatalities is attributed to concerted efforts to increase awareness, improve alcohol policy, increase enforcement, and change social norms.
Additional information about the insurance set-aside program can be obtained from VALT's Road Safety Director, Lasse Hantula, tel: +358 9 6804 0334, email: lasse.hantula@vakes.fi
Proposals to establish a similar dedicated safety fund in the U.S. have been made by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The members of ICADTS will be electing new officers for three year terms that begin in the Summer of 2003. Elections will be held for President-Elect, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. In addition, two Executive Board Members-at-Large will be elected for six year terms. Nominating Committee Chairman, ICADTS Past President Hans Laurell has requested that ICADTS members consider who they might suggest as nominees. All proposed nominations for the above positions must be made and seconded by a member of ICADTS. All suggested nominations should be forwarded to Past President Laurell at email: hans.laurell@vv.se by January 17, 2003. The Nominating Committee will develop a slate of candidates for each of the open positions and conduct a postal/email ballot in the Spring.
A recent NHTSA report provides guidance on conducting screenings and brief interventions. Alcohol use and abuse is a major preventable public health problem, contributing to over 100,000 deaths each year and costing society over 185 billion dollars annually. Patients represent the entire spectrum of alcohol-related problems. This includes drinkers at-risk for injury and illness, those presenting with harmful/problem drinking such as the impaired driver, all the way to those with signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence. Brief intervention does work There is compelling evidence in the literature that screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol problems does work. A recent evidence-based review on SBI revealed 39 published studies. A positive effect was demonstrated in 32 of these studies. Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of brief intervention in a variety of settings, including general populations, primary care, emergency departments and inpatient trauma centers. The report (DOT HS 809 467-July 2002), prepared in cooperation with the American College of Emergency Physicians, can be viewed on the NHTSA website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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, Email: dlindsay@indiana.edu.
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, Email: rpain@nas.edu.
March 9-11, 2003
Lifesavers 2003 - Chicago, Illinois USA
For information, contact the organizers at, Tel: 703-922-7944, Fax: 703-922-7780, website: www.lifesaversconference.org.
March 13-16, 2003
Alcohol Policy 13-Boston - Massachusetts, USA
The conference theme will be: Preventing Alcohol Problems Among Youth-Policy Implications.
Visit the AP13 website for conference information: www.edc.org/alcoholpolicy13
March 16-19, 2003
Course on the Effects of Drugs on Human Performance and Behavior - 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, Email: dlindsay@indiana.edu.
September 22-27, 2003
3rd European Academy of Forensic Science Meeting - Istanbul, Turkey
Contact the EAFS 2003 Secretariat at, Tel: +90 212 287 58 00, Email: eafs2003@enfsi.org
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