More than 400 delegates and exhibitors and guests from 36 countries participated in the 17th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety, in Glasgow, Scotland, UK the week of August 8, 2004. More than 200 scientific papers were presented. Mr. David Jamieson, the British Road Safety Minister, addressed the conference and carried out the opening formalities, which included remarks by ICADTS President Dr. Han de Gier, the presentation of the 2004 ICADTS awards and plenary presentations by Dr. David Osseleton of the UK Forensic Science Service; Professor Wayne Jones from Sweden; and Dr. Margie Peden of the World Health Organization.
Special one-day workshops, focusing on the practical issues of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety from the aspects of police enforcement, legal issues, work related transport issues [road, rail, sea and air] and drugs and driving [licit and illicit] also were conducted. Summaries of the findings of each workshop were presented at the Closing Ceremony, followed by the Conference Summing-up by ICADTS President-elect Dr. Ralph Hingson.
The ICADTS Foundation awarded a $500 prize for the best poster to J. Boyle, R. Meadows, I. Hindmarch, and A. Degia of the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit, School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK for their poster, Drug Induced Driver Impairment: The development of a roadside testing device. The Foundation also provided financial assistance to six young scientists [Kim Kupers (NL), Robyn Robertson (C), Beata Silber (AUS), Eileen Ahlin and Arthur Goodwin (USA) and Adi Ronen (IS)] and to two colleagues working in developing and transitional countries [Anesh Sukhai (South Africa) and Edeaghe Ehikhamenor (Nigeria)], to enable them to participate in the conference. Funding for two others was approved, but they could not attend.
All registered delegates received a book of abstracts of the scientific papers and a CD containing the full papers. For those who could not attend the conference, the book of abstracts and the paper's CD can be purchased by contacting Claire Cresswell, T2004 Conference Secretariat, Meeting Makers Ltd, Jordanhill Campus, 76 Southbrae Drive, Glasgow G13 1PP, Scotland, UK. Phone +44 [0] 141 434 1500, Fax : +44 [0] 141 434 1519, E-mail: claire@meetingmakers.co.uk.
Special thanks goes to Dr. John Oliver, the Conference Chairman, Dr. Paul Williams, Dr. Andrew Clayton and the other members of the Organizing Committee for their hard work over many years to put on such a successful and well run conference.
The ICADTS official journal, Traffic Injury Prevention, has issued a special alcohol and drug impaired driving edition (Volume 5, Issue 3 - September 2004). The edition contains a compilation of many of today's important impaired driving issues, including: Worldwide Trends, Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on Driver Performance, Preventing Impaired Driving Using Alcohol Policy, Effectiveness of Sobriety Checkpoints, Underage Drinking, Drugs and Driving, Hard Core Drinking Drivers, Vehicle Sanctions, Alcohol Ignition Interlocks, Screening and Intervention for Alcohol Use Problems among Injured and High-Risk Drivers and other subjects.
Kathryn Stewart served as Guest Editor and most of the authors are members of ICADTS. Copies of this edition were distributed to all delegates at T2004 in Glasgow. All ICADTS members also received a copy of the journal, as part of their ICADTS dues. Individual copies of the special edition can be purchased from the publisher, Taylor & Francis. Call, in North America, 215-625-8900, ext. 216 or via fax at 215-625-8914. Orders outside of North America, contact their UK office at +44 (0) 1256 813002 or via fax at +44 (0) 1256 479438. Additionally, orders can be sent via e-mail to journals.orders@tandf.co.uk. Please reference the specific issue of the journal, 5 (3), with the order.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has reported that the number of alcohol-related fatalities in 2003 dropped from 17,524 in 2002 to 17,013, a decline of 2.9%. The percent of alcohol-related fatalities dropped from 41% to 40% and the rate of alcohol-related fatalities/100million miles traveled decline from 0.61 to 0.59. Total highway fatalities declined 0.8% to 42,643 from the 43,005 killed in 2002. Total injuries declined by 1.3% in 2003 to 2,889,000. Fatalities in crashes in which the maximum BAC .08% declined by 3.1%. Overall, the number of occupants and nonoccupants killed in alcohol-related crashes declined. The largest decrease was for passengers killed in such crashes (8%). But, the number of motorcycle riders killed in alcohol-related crashes increased by more than 5%. The number of alcohol-involved drivers in fatal crashes increased in SUVs (3%) and motorcycles (4%). However, the number of such drivers of passenger cars declined by 6%. The full National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2003 Annual Assessment, Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatality Counts and Injury Estimates for 2003 can be viewed on the web at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/ncsa/ppt/2003AAReleaseBW.pdf.
The Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe organised a seminar in Strasbourg, France, in June 2003, bringing together 66 international experts to take stock of the problem of road traffic and psychoactive substances. Five working groups looked at legal aspects, prevalence and risk assessment, problems in the field of police practices, prevention and substitution treatment issues. Many of the background reports were prepared by ICADTS members, including President Han de Gier. A new book, Road Traffic and Psychoactive Substances, contains the background reports, the presentations given at the seminar, and the conclusions and recommendations made at the close of the meeting. Visit: http://book.coe.int for purchasing information. See Vol. 14, No. 4 of The Reporter for additional information on the Pompidou Group's activities.
The ICADTS Reporter quarterly newsletter is available online. Anyone preferring to receive their copy via email instead of by post, please advise the editors. In addition, the current and past editions of the Reporter can be viewed and downloaded from the ICADTS website: www.ICADTS.org. All editions posted on the website can be searched using a very user-friendly, fully indexed word, search engine.
A paper presented by Beata Silber at T2004 in Glasgow discussed the effects of dexamphetamine on driving performance. She was the recipient of one of the ICADTS Foundation Young Scientist stipends that enabled her to attend the conference. The paper was co-authored by K. Papafotiou, R. Croft and C.K.K. Stough of the Drugs and Driving Research Unit, Centre for Neuropsychology, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia.
In the study, twenty healthy non-fatigued participants (10 males; 10 females) aged between 21 and 32 years with a valid, full drivers license, completed two treatment conditions: placebo and 0.42mg/kg Dexamphetamine tablet and completed a simulator task and sobriety tests. The driving test included simulated freeway traffic and city traffic in both day and night conditions.
Driving performance was significantly poorer for the day driving condition only, when blood and saliva dexamphetamine concentration levels were approximately 90 ng/ml and 80 ng/ml respectively. This driving impairment was observed with relatively low blood concentration levels compared to the levels found in drivers involved in road accidents and fatalities. Although no significant impairment was found for the night driving condition, there was a trend to decreased reaction time in the drugged condition. The full paper can be found in the T2004 proceddings. Papers by other recipients of the of the ICADTS Foundation Young Scientist stipend recipient's T2004 papers will be featured in future editions of The Reporter.
A paper presented at T2004 in Glasgow by Anesh Sukhai, a recipient of the ICADTS Foundation Stipend for colleagues working in developing and transitional countries, was entitled, A Preliminary Investigation into the Nexus between Substance Abuse and Non-Fatal Road Traffic Injury Outcome in South Africa. He is affiliated with the South African Medical Research Council and University of South Africa Crime, Violence & Injury Lead Programme, Durban, South Africa.
Injuries as a result of road traffic collisions in South Africa are among the highest in the world and constitute a major public health challenge. The National Department of Transport indicated that in 2001, the South African traffic burden translated to 512,000 crashes, which resulted in 7,900 road traffic deaths and 150,000 injuries. Traffic crashes are the 4th highest cause of premature mortality in the country. The overall cost of this carnage to the South African economy was estimated at R13.8 billion. Substance abuse is often implicated as a major contributor to these road traffic injuries.
The paper presented date from the Trauma and Drug Surveillance Study (TADSS), which monitors the incidence of acute alcohol intoxication, chronic alcoholism and illicit drug usage among patients presenting with 'fresh' trauma at trauma units throughout the country. The study was based on 1,935 patients treated from 1999 to 2001 from five sentinel sites. Violence-related injury dominated (60%) followed by equal percentages for traffic-related injury and 'other unintentional injury' (both 20%). Among traffic-related injury (n=394), vehicle passengers and pedestrians accounted for a similar percentage of cases (43% and 40%, respectively) followed by vehicle drivers (17%). Males dominated among the driver and pedestrian groups (89% and 76%, respectively) while the passenger group had a slightly higher percentage of females (52%). Overall, 42% of traffic-related injuries were alcohol-related and 31% were rated positive for alcohol dependency. The mean level of alcohol consumption was similar among all traffic user groups at 0.09 g/100ml. The overall drug-relatedness of traffic cases was about one-third (36%) and 23% used alcohol in combination with at least one illicit drug. The full paper appears in the T2004 proceedings.
B.C. Watson of the Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Carseldine, Australia presented a paper at 2004 in Glagow that looked at the crash risk of disqualified/suspended and other unlicensed Drivers.
This paper utilizes official crash data from the Australian state of Queensland's road crash database for the years 1994-98 to explore the crash risks associated with unlicensed driving. In Australia, unlicensed drivers represent over 5% of the drivers involved in fatal crashes. The crashes involving unlicensed drivers and riders account for almost 10% of the national road toll. There is a growing body of evidence linking unlicensed driving, particularly disqualified driving, to a cluster of high-risk behaviours including drink driving, speeding, failure to wear seat belts and motorcycle use. Consistent with this, the crashes involving unlicensed drivers tend to be more severe than those involving licensed drivers, resulting in higher rates of fatality and serious injury.
The crash involvement patterns of unlicensed drivers were compared with those for licensed drivers. It was found that unlicensed drivers (as a whole) were almost three times more likely to be involved in a crash than licensed drivers, while disqualified/suspended drivers were almost four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Unlicensed driving was also associated with almost twice the risk of the crash resulting in a serious casualty crash (ie. one resulting in a fatality or serious injury). The full paper can be found in the T2004 proceedings.
The report of the two-day Symposium Developing Global Strategies for Identifying, Prosecuting, and Treating Drug-Impaired Drivers in Tampa, FL February 23-24, 2004 is now available online. The symposium was co-sponsored by the White House Drug Policy Office, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, ICADTS, and the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists Approximately 125 international experts in drugged-driving from 14 nations gathered to discuss how technology for drug-detection can be used with DUI laws to support new strategies to reduce drugged driving, and develop a better understanding of the current problems with identifying, prosecuting, and treating drugged drivers. (For more information about the symposium, see The Reporter, Vol. 15, No. 2) The report contains the recommendations of the three panels: 1) Identification of Drugged-Driver Issues, 2) Enforcement and Prosecution Issues, and 3) Treatment, Education and Prevention Issues. The report was edited by Dr. J. Michael Walsh, Leo Cangianelli and Nei-Hyun Park of The Walsh Group and can be viewed, along with the Powerpoint presentations of the plenary speakers, at: www.walshgroup.org, or from the ICADTS website, www.ICADTS.org.
Mark your calendars. The 18th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety is scheduled for the beautiful city of Seattle, Washington, U.S. from August 26-31, 2007. It will be the first time the international conference has been held in U.S. since T'89 in Chicago in 1989.
The next meeting of ICADTS will being held in the Seattle Sheraton, the premier conference hotel and center in Seattle, It is right in the middle of the vibrant downtown area, surrounded by museums, shopping, dining and entertainment, and a short walk from stunning views of Puget Sound and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.
The Organizing Committee is being chaired Dr. Barry K Logan. Early sponsors include the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Administration and the Washington State Patrol. A website (www.ICADTS2007.org) has been set up to keep you informed of developments in planning for the scientific program, special sessions, the social program, deadlines for submission of abstracts, and hotel rates and registration information, so check it frequently.
The Venue Search Committee, chaired by ICADTS President-Elect, Dr. Ralph Hingson, has begun accepting and reviewing bid proposal to host T2010. Any ICADTS members interested in hosting T2010 should submit a formal proposal by the end of 2004. Contact Dr. Hingson or The Reporter editors for additional information and for assistance in preparing your bid. Proposals should be submitted to Dr. Hingson, Director, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Reasearch, NIAAA, 5635 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA, Tel: 301-443-1274, Email: rhingson@mail.nih.gov.
In 2004, the ICADTS Executive Board elected 7 new full members and 6 affiliate members to ICADTS. This follows the election of 9 new full members and 1 affiliate member in 2003. This brings to almost 200 members active in ICADTS. Each new full member was nominated by two active ICADTS members and approved by the Membership Committee and the Executive Board. Affiliate member applicants only require one sponsor. 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, Dan Mayhew, Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 171 Nepean Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0B4, Canada, Tel: 613-238-5235, Fax: 613-238-5292, Email: danm@trafficinjuryresearch.com. The entire membership process can now be conducted on-line. Dues for ICADTS members, beginning in 2005, will be $85 per year and include a subscription to the ICADTS journal, Traffic Injury Prevention (with online access). New members elected in the remainder of 2004, will not be required to pay dues until 2005.
ICADTS is considering establishing a working group on Guidelines for Reducing Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driving. The working group will review best practices and proven countermeasures in use throughout the world and develop guidelines that can be used by countries to initiate or improve existing programs to reduce impaired driving. Those interested in joining the group can contact Richard Compton (rcompton@nhtsa.dot.gov) or Barry Sweedler (sweedlb@hotmail.com).
The last edition of The Reporter (Vol. 15, No. 2) included an article on enhanced sanctions for high BAC offenders. It referred to a NHTSA report. The focus of the report, Enhanced Sanctions for Higher BACs: Evaluation of Minnesota's High-BAC Law, is the evaluation of Minnesota's law, but also included an update of states' high BAC laws. The report can be found at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/research/enhancedsanctions/index.html.
At a special session at T2004 in Glasgow experts from around the world examined the drinking driving trends in each country and the reasons for the declines and increases. In the decade of the 1980s, there were impressive declines in drinking and driving in much of the industrialized world. The declines included about 50% in the Great Britain, 28 % in Canada and The Netherlands, 32% in Australia, 37% in Germany and 26% in the U.S. These declines did not continue in the early part of the 1990s. In some countries, there were actually increases. Toward the middle and latter part of the decade the increases stabilized and many countries again began to see some decreases. However, these decreases were at a slower rate than the dramatic decreases in the 1980s. Approaching the end of the 1990s and early in the new century, the record has been mixed. Some countries (France, and Germany) continued to reduce drinking and driving while in other countries (Canada, the Netherlands, Great Britain and the United States), there was stagnation and in some cases small increases or even large increase as was the case in Sweden. The U.S. saw a decline in 2003, the first since 1999.
It was concluded that stronger laws, vigorous enforcement, and changes in social norms have all contributed to the progress that has been made. A number of countries found a strong link between levels of enforcement (especially random and roadside breath tests) and the alcohol-related fatalities. When the number of breath tests increased, the alcohol-related fatalities dropped. When the number of tests dropped, alcohol-related fatalities increased. Complacency and a deflection of attention to other issues in recent years have been difficult to overcome in some countries. Harmonization of traffic safety laws in the European Union has strengthened laws in some countries but threatens existing strong policies in others. It may be that the major gains have already been made and that additional progress will require a much greater level of scientific knowledge, use of new technologies and political and social commitment to implement proven countermeasures.
Specifics about each country can be found in the T2004 proceedings and in a paper in the special alcohol and drug edition of Traffic Injury Prevention (Volume 5, Issue 3, September 2004).
October 17-19, 2004
Symposium on Blood and Breath Alcohol Test Program Management and Administration-Bloomington, Indiana USA
December 5-10, 2004
The Borkenstein Course on Alcohol and Highway Safety: Testing, Research and Litigation-Bloomington, Indiana USA
Contact: Center for Studies of Law in Action, Indiana Univ. Tel: 812-855-1783, Fax: 812-855-7542, Email: dlindsay@indiana.edu.
October 31-November 5, 2004
47th International Conference of the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions-Venice, Italy
For information, contact ICAA in Lausanne: Email: secretariat@icaa.ch, Tel: 0041-21-320-9865, Box 189, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland, Website: www.icaa.ch.
January 9-13, 2005
84th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board-Washington, DC USA
Alcohol and drug impaired driving technical sessions, and meetings of the TRB Committee on Alcohol, Other Drugs and Transportation and the ICADTS Executive Board will be featured.
Visit www.trb.org/trb/meeting for meeting information.