Final preparations are underway for T'97 in Annecy, France from September 21-26, 1997. More than 200 papers from 20 different countries have been accepted for presentation at T'97, the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Representatives from more than 40 countries have registered for the conference. The papers cover such topics as: driving performance, roadside surveys, legislative strategies, epidemiology, measurement and screening, enforcement, prevention and rehabilitation programs. On the shores of the cleanest lake in Europe, surrounded by a scenic range of mountains, Annecy is a charming town in the Northern French Alps, 40 km from the Geneva International Airport. In addition to the scientific program, an extensive social program is also planned. The proceedings will be provided to all those who register for conference as part of their registration package.
Six plenary papers are planned. Alcohol Risk and Public Policies by Claude Got; Drugs and Traffic Safety by Georges Lagier; The Rise and Fall of Drunk Driving as a Social Problem in the U.S.A. by H.L. Ross; The Victorian Parliamentary Report on Drugs and Road Safety; 1996 Roadside Surveys in the U.S.A. by Allan Williams; and Partners in Progress in the U.S.A., Impaired Driving Programs for the Next Decade by Jim Hedlund.
To obtain the second and final announcement, including the registration brochure, contact the Conference Secretariat, c/o C.E.R.M.T, B.P. 132, 74004 Annecy Cedex, FRANCE, Tel: 33-4-50-45 61 79, Fax: 33-4-50-45 36 92 or contact the Reporter editors.
ICADTS recognizes long-term, outstanding contributions to the field of alcohol, drugs and traffic safety through its Widmark 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. The Widmark Awards Committee, under the Chairmanship of ICADTS Past President Dr. Herb Simpson, has recommended the conferring of individual awards on Dr. Allan Williams (USA), Dr. Herbert Moskowitz (USA), and Dr. A. Wayne Jones (Sweden) and institutional award to Remove Intoxicated Drivers, Inc (USA). The ICADTS Executive Board has approved the Committees recommendations. The awards will be conferred at the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety in Annecy, France in September. For information about Dr. Erik M. P. Widmark of Sweden, for whom the award is named and the history of the award, see the ICADTS Reporter, Vol. 8, No. 2.
New officers have been elected by postal ballot by the members of ICADTS. The new officers assume their positions at the conclusion of T'97 in September and serve until T'2000. Four of the Board positions carry forward from the last election. Hans Laurell of Sweden becomes President. Carol L. Popkin of the USA becomes Secretary. Wolf-Rüdiger Nickel of Germany becomes Treasurer and Dr. Alexander J. McLean of Australia becomes the Past President, with duties as chair of the Widmark Award, Membership and Nominating Committees. Barry Sweedler of the USA was elected President Elect. Dr. Charles Mercier- Guyon was elected Assistant Treasurer and Dr. Elisabeth Wells-Parker of the USA Assistant Secretary. Dr. Andrew Clayton of the UK and Dr. Allan Williams of the USA were elected Executive Board members-at-large. Dr. James A Dunbar (UK) and Dr. James Hedlund (USA) continue their terms as the remaining Board members. More than 70% of ICADTS members participated in the postal ballot.
Preliminary results from a survey suggest that illicit drug taking has increased among those killed in road accidents in Great Britain, as compared to survey results from 1985 to 1987. The survey, commissioned by the Department of Transport and carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory, found that the level of medicinal drugs measured in fatally injured crash victims has remained roughly constant in the last decade. The survey involves taking a blood or urine samples from people killed in road accidents, including drivers, riders of two-wheel vehicles, passengers in vehicles, and pedestrians. In the first seven months of the latest survey (up to May of 1997) 301 victims have been tested.
The results indicate that the incidence of medicinal drugs likely to affect driving (tranquilizers, hypnotics, and antidepressants) has not changed significantly. There has been a large increase, however, in the number of fatally injured crash victims testing positive for cannabis. It should be noted that cannabis remains in the blood stream for up to four weeks after it is taken by regular users, whereas its affect driving is probably limited to at most 24 hours after it has been taken. Therefore, the conclusion cannot be drawn that cannabis was a factor in the crash. So far, no case has been found involving the use of cocaine or LSD and there is little evidence of the use of amphetamines. Opiates and methadone, which were rarely found in the previous survey, do now appear to be a problem, although still not a major one.
There has been a large increase in the number of fatalities who had taken two or more different types of illicit drugs. On the other hand, only a handful of drivers and riders (seven per month) had taken both an illicit drug and tested over the legal limit for alcohol. This contrasts with findings in some other countries where many drivers are found to have used both alcohol and illicit drugs. There has been a sharp decrease over the last ten years in the number of victims who are over the legal limit.
The table below shows the percentages of fatalities in which drugs or alcohol were detected.
Percent of Traffic Fatalities Testing Positive
(N = 301)
| drivers | riders | pass. | peds. | total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medicinal | 4 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
| cannabis | 12 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 10 |
| amphet. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| opiates | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| methadone | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| multiple drugs | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| alcohol (over .08) | 20 | 15 | 27 | 32 | 22 |
The U.S. Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the National Safety Council, has published Setting Limits, Saving Lives: The Case for .08 BAC Laws. This booklet provides essential information on laws that would lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to .08 percent. Currently, 35 states in the United States still have the legal BAC set at .10 percent, one of the highest limits in the world.
The booklet describes .08 laws, their effects on traffic crashes, and the case for lowering the legal limit to .08. It addresses many of the myths about .08 (for example, "If you lower the BAC limit to .08, it means I can't even have a couple of drinks with my dinner.") and describes how the public or interested parties, such as the hospitality industry, can help pass .08 laws. It also addresses issues related to law enforcement and the economic impact of .08 laws. The booklet provides a list of resources at the Federal and state level and a model law.
To receive a copy of the publication, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 202-366-2727.
Both the Canadian and the United States governments have released reports of alcohol involvement in 1995 fatal motor vehicle crashes. The US report, Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes - 1995, was released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 1995, 32.5% of all fatalities occurred in crashes with a driver or nonoccupant with a BAC of at least 0.10. this represents a 29.8% reduction compared to 1982, when the percentage was 46.3%. Forty two percent of the occupant fatalities in single-vehicle fatal crashes involved an intoxicated driver, compared with 21.9% of the occupant fatalities in multi-vehicle fatal crashes. An estimated 38% of the fatalities in nonoccupant crashes involved an intoxicated driver or nonoccupant. Almost two-thirds (65.1%) of the driver fatalities in single-vehicle fatal crashes on weekend nights were intoxicated. Male drivers involved in fatal crashes were almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated (21.8% vs. 11.2%). Drivers aged 21-24 exhibit the highest rates of intoxication (27.8%) followed by drivers aged 25-29 (27%). Drivers aged 16-20 were intoxicated 12.7% of the time. Between 1982-1995, estimated reductions in the proportion of intoxicated drivers in fatal crashes are 37% for passenger car drivers, 35% for light trucks and vans, 74% for heavy trucks and 28% for motorcycles. (Source: Report No. DOT HS 808 547, March 1997. Contact NHTSA, 400 7th St. S.W., Washington, DC 20590 for a copy of the report)
The Canadian report, Alcohol Use Among Persons Fatally Injured in Motor Vehicle Accidents: Canada 1995, was prepared for Transport Canada by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada. In 1995, 43.4% of fatally injured drivers in Canada had been drinking and most of these had illegal BACs. The average BAC among fatally injured drivers was .169%, more than twice the legal statutory limit of .08%. Drivers in the 20-25 years age group account for 23% of the fatally injured drivers with a BAC over .08%. Almost one third of the drinking-drivers (32%) with a BAC over .08% are in the 26-35 years age group. Among fatally injured males, 47% had been drinking, compared to 30% for females. Among drivers of fatally injured in single-vehicle collisions, 65% had been drinking, whereas only 25% of drivers killed in multiple-vehicle collisions had consumed alcohol. Among drivers involved in single-vehicle crashes, 89% had illegal BACs, compared to 67% for those killed in multiple-vehicle crashes. Forty one percent (41%) of fatally injured pedestrians had been drinking and most of these had a BAC over .08%. The proportion of fatally injured drivers who had not been drinking has been increasing -- from 47% in 1987 to 57% in 1995. There has also been a decline in the percent of drivers with high BACs -- 32% in 1987 compared to 27% in 1995. The only disruption in this overall trend occurred between 1990 and 1992 when the percent of fatally injured drivers who were sober decreased. (Source: Technical Canada Publication No. TP 11759-95 (E), July 1997. Contact Transport Canada, 330 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N5 for a copy.)
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) recently published an update entitled: Reducing Injuries from Drinking And Driving, which describes recent developments in impaired driving among members of the European Union (EU). The update reports that France reduced its legal blood alcohol content (BAC) from .08 percent to .07 percent in 1994 and then reduced the limit further to .05 percent in 1995. Penalties for violating the limit were also increased in severity. In Belgium, the limit was reduced from .08 to .05. Germany is currently discussing lowering its legal limit to .05 from the current .08. Finland has increased the number of breath tests (both random and targeted) in recent years so that in the last year, 1.4 million tests were carried out, representing about 40 percent of drivers in the country.
In the Netherlands, rehabilitation courses for impaired driving offenders have been made compulsory for drivers with BACs higher than .13 and for repeat offenders. The courses have also been increased in intensity. In Germany, offenders will be encouraged to participate in rehabilitation programs by a reduction in the period of license suspension for those entering such programs.
The following table shows the current BAC limits in the EU member states.
| Country | limit (%) | Country | limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | .08 | Ireland | .08 |
| Belgium | .05 | Italy | .08 |
| Denmark | .08 | Luxembourg | .08 |
| Finland | .05 | Netherlands | .05 |
| France | .05 | Portugal | .05 |
| Germany | .08 | Spain | .08 |
| Great Britain | .08 | Sweden | .02 |
| Greece | .05 |
For copies of the update newsletter, contact ETSC, Rue de Cornet 34, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: 32-2-230-4106/4004, Fax: 32-2-230-4215.
A recent paper authored by the California Department of Motor Vehicles' research And Development Branch found that 8.8 percent of drivers on the road during the periods and at the locations sampled had a suspended or revoked license and another 3.3 percent had no record of any driver's license. The estimates were based on an analysis of fatal crashes in California during the years 1987-1992 where one or more of the drivers were cited. The study also found that the suspended or revoked and unlicensed drivers were much more likely to be the responsible party in the crash. For example, in 1992, suspended or revoked drivers were 7.8 times more likely to be the cause of a fatal crash than are drivers with valid licensees. When the reason for revocation or suspension is considered, drivers suspended and revoked for DUI or negligent driving have the highest risk of crash involvement.
The complete paper appears in Accident Analysis and Prevention, 29(1), Estimating the exposure and fatal crash rates of suspended/revoked and unlicensed drivers in California, authored by D.J. DeYoung, R.C. Peck, and C.J. Helander.
The National Group Rides and Designated Drivers (GRADD) program can provide help to colleges and universities who wish to start programs to provide sober transportation to students. Information can be obtained from Kristin Crawford, Executive Director, National GRADD, P.O. Box 48008, St. Petersburg, Florida 33743-8008, phone 813-546-SAFE, Fax: 813-546-7012, Website, http://www.ntlgradd.w1.com.
The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), an organization funded by eleven major international alcohol companies, has published a report entitled "The Limits of Binge Drinking," which discusses the nature of binge drinking and drinkers in different cultures and some of the problems associated with binge drinking. The report points out that, while definitions of binge drinking differ from culture to culture, many of the patterns are similar. For example, in the US as well as Japan, Germany, Mexico, Wales, Micronesia, Fiji, and other countries mentioned in the report, binge drinking is much more common among males than among females. In many cultures it is also more common among youth than among older adult drinkers. What constitutes a "binge" can vary widely. For example, in a study of drinking patterns in Italy, an average of eight drinks a day was not considered binge drinking but rather normal behavior. A study of men in southern India, by contrast, showed that problems associated with alcohol dependence were reported at consumption levels equivalent to drinking two drinks on no more than one day per week.
The report emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between heavy drinking and binge drinking, which entail different behavior patterns and different problems. Problems that may be associated with binge drinking include alcohol poisoning, cardiac effects and risk of sudden death from stroke as well as traumatic injury from accidents and violence. For a copy of the report, contact ICAP at 1519 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, Tel: 202-986-1159, Fax: 202-986-2080, Email: mgrant@igc.apc.org.
September 21-25, 1997
T'97 -- The 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety - Annecy, France
Contact T'97 Secretariat at CERMT, BP 132, 74004 Annecy Cedex, France, Tel: 33-4-50-45 61 79, Fax: 33-4-50-45 36 92. See related article.
September 27-September 30, 1997
15th World Congress of the International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine -Ankara, Turkey
Contact XV IATM World Congress, Kizilirmak Caddesi 53/5, Kocatepe 06640, Ankara, Turkey, Fax: 90-312-2872390.
October 5-9,1997
The Annual Conference of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) - Snowbird, Utah
Contact Linda Williams, Conference Coordinator, Center for Human Toxicology, University of Utah, Tel: 801-581-5809, Webpage: http://lysine.pharm.utah.edu/~dcrouch/SOFT97.html.
October 15-17, 1997
53nd Annual National Traffic Court Seminar - San Francisco, CA, USA
Contact the American Bar Association at 541 North Fairbanks Court, Chicago, IL 60611, USA, Tel: 312-988-5701, Fax: 312-988-5709.
November 23-27,1997
The 4th International Conference on Safety and the Environment in the 21st Century - Tel-Aviv, Israel
Contact the Secretariat, Dan Knassim Ltd., PO Box 1931, Ramat-Gan 52118 Israel, Tel: 972-3-6133340, Fax: 972-3-6133341.
January 11-15, 1998
77th Annual Meeting of the U.S. Transportation Research Board - Washington, D.C., USA
Contact Dr. Richard Pain, Tel: 202-334-2960, Fax: 202-334-2003.
February 18-20, 1997
Second World Congress on Safety of Transportation- Delft, The Netherlands
Contact Karin Luijendijk, Erasmus Forum, c/o Safety of Transportation, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: 31-10-408-1098, Fax: 31-10-453-0784, Email: K.E.Luijendijk@forum.svdu.eur.nl.
May 17-20, 1998
4th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Control-Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contact Conference Secretariat, P.O. Box 1558, 6501 BN Nijmegon, The Netherlands, Tel: 31-24-323-4471, Fax: 31-24-360-1159, Email: reg.fowoco.nw@prompt.nl.