Background The highest risk of traffic accident fatalities is among young people during weekend nights. A major role is played by use of psychoactive substances (PS). The aim is to objectively estimate young drivers PS consumption and its relationship with driving performance in order to define a European approach for preventing road accidents.
Methods The study, funded by European Community,
... [Show full abstract] involved Italy, Belgium/The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Latvia. Drivers aged 16–34 were enrolled in recreational meeting places during weekend nights. Questionnaires, alcohol tests and reaction time (RT) tests with a driving simulator were administrated at the entrance and exit of recreational sites, along with multi-drug tests at the exit only (portal survey technique).
Results 4700 subjects were enrolled (68% male). 5% of individuals consumed some illegal drug into the recreational site and 28% left the site with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.5 g/l. A linear regression model shows a statistically significant increase in exit RT in subjects leaving with BAC over 0.5 g/l (0.0653 s for BAC increase of 1 g/l, P < 0.001), who consumed 5 or more drinks (0.0504 s, P < 0.0013) or illegal drugs into the site (0.04567, P < 0.0036). The difference between enter and exit RT is influenced by age and gender: it is higher in women and increases with age. After the exit tests, the majority of subjects with BAC over 0.5 g/l or who had consumed illegal drugs declared the intention not to drive.
Conclusions Study results show a direct relationship between RT increase and both illegal drug and excessive alcohol consumption, with age and gender influences. Moreover, the direct experience of PS effects on driving performance through tests and simulations seems to positively influence young people behaviors. These findings can be useful for designing specific and effective preventive interventions.
