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     Drug Driving Option Fells Under 40's

One in 5 Kiwis aged 13-17 have smoked cannabis in the prior year, and local studies point to cannabis being faraway the most common drug behind teenagers fatal crashes. New Zealands' drinking culture also ill impacts on the road safety of older drivers. NZ is co-leading a global trend of momentous gains in drink drive reduction being eroded, by adaption via other drug use.

According to ICADTS & Austroads, atop alcohol, there are 4 risk drug classes regarded as epidemiologically important in traffic; BACO - nonprescribed Benzo tranquillisers, Amphetamines, Cannabis, & Opiates. 

In the first 2 years of the NZ Government "Control of drunk and drugged driver" study 121 NZ driver deaths involved excess alcohol - just 60 without drugs. 153 had concerning levels of risk drugs (124 had lately used cannabis), and 92 of the drug takers were alcohol free. 37% of the 15-19 year olds killed in year 1 had used risk drugs (versus 12% dying while drunk - over a 0.03BAC).

Solely cannabis affected drivers were at fault in 77% of their fatal crashes, and sole drinkers in 87%. It was frighteningly reported that 96% of dead drivers in a high risk age band had used alcohol, risk drugs or both (Vergara).

Update; between 2004-2007 156 deceased drivers were over the 0.08 BAL, 193 were under cannabis influence and 90 used other risk drugs. If NZ statistics mirror Australian equivalents 85% of cannabis drivers had over 5ng in their blood - the point at which crash risk exponentially raises. At a modest 0.04BAC cannabis drivers whose risk is 3-7x that of sober drivers will rise to twice the alcohol limit in impairment (45x risk).

Roadside testing in South Africa lately found that 20% of those failing breathalysers are also under influence of drugs, but the local studies results (above) showing a 56% prevalence of other drugs in Kiwi drink drivers suggest even more than half of the 33,188 drink drivers convicted in 2007could have been dually impaired. The danger posed by todays processed drink drivers - being purebreds no more, is far greater than was at first assumed. 

Alcohols top 2 partner drugs in crime

Candor's 2007 roadside survey found with a 95% confidence interval that a minimum of 8% of Kiwi drivers may drive under risk drug influence daily. 

A body of evidence now indicates that cannabis (delta-9 thc not carboxy thc) and abused benzodiazepines are having similar influence on increasing traffic offences and crash rates, with cannabis trouble ahead by a nose depending on the locale. Drivers apprehended for erratic driving have most commonly used cannabis per some studies (Augsberger 60-80% of drug cases).

Not far behind (per Australian research) is opiates in some areas, and in NZ most District or Coroner court cases of drug driving causing death have highlighted intoxication by either cannabis or opiates with benzos added.

Minor U.K. research(2006) found that of 166 drivers with obvious major impairment, in which alcohol was ruled out, 101 blood samples contained benzodiazepine. In half these cases the problem was compounded by the addition of painkillers (opiates). Most benzo tranquilliser impaired driving arrestees are found to be illicit poly-druggers not patients using correctly (Christopherson, Abotnes 2000)

A study of 150,000 U.S. drivers (Marowitz, 1994)  found drug offence arrestees have 2.47x the single vehicle crash rate of others. Candors' much smaller scale survey found higher traffic offence and similarly raised crash rates among those who drove under the influence of drugs, right here in N.Z.

A third of subjects who reported ever having driven drug affected had been involved in a crash from which a vehicle was towed (28/81).Over half of the drivers testing positive had experienced a reasonably serious crash and/or had a serious traffic conviction. Under 20% of drug users, who reported never driving drugged, had ever experienced an endangering crash. 

A longitudinal Christchurch baby study run by Otago University still follows a cohort of 1000 youth now aged 25. They were far more likely to drive drugged than drunk over the last 5 years, and were twice as likely to have been responsible for a crash - while under the influence of drugs than of alcohol.  

High drug driving rate skews local DUI studies

Research published by the Ministry of Transport (Frith, Patterson et al) oddly gives Kiwis who are under 40 much higher odds of dying in a crash at any given alcohol level than citizens of other Nations with equal alcohol intake.

This is likely due to the methodology of the M.O.T. drink drive researchers failing to adjust risk ratings down to account for partial cannabis attribution  given that NZ has one of the highest rates of cannabis found in dead drivers.

Euro Road Safety Observatory worried DUI moves misfire

Mandatory alcohol testing introduced in Ireland in 2006 produced some shock results. Analysis of breathalyser tests found that larger numbers of detections are being made at the lower levels. (Research Department, RSA).

 

But a continuing high road toll led to correspondence from the MBRS to the Transport Department saying consideration is needed of the ever increasing levels of zero which could indicate drug or polydrug (alcohol/drug) use. 

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Unfortunately New Zealanders suffer checkpoints that let more unfit drivers proceed than are removed from the road - high vehicle safety specs, seat belts and child booster seats are critical given the lack of a safety culture.