Drug Impaired Driving : Understanding the Problem and Ways to Reduce It (a Report to Congress)

Compton, R.; Vegega, M.; Smither, D. · 2009 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research

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Summary

This report, mandated by Section 2013 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU), addresses the complex problem of drug-impaired driving (DUID). Unlike alcohol, where blood concentration correlates reliably with impairment, psychoactive drugs present significant challenges due to varied pharmacokinetics, individual tolerance, and poor correlation between blood levels and behavioral effects. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted this study to assess methodologies for measuring impairment, evaluate enforcement and prosecution practices, determine the role of drugs in traffic crashes, and provide recommendations for federal and state policy. The research involved a comprehensive review of existing literature, coordination with federal agencies, and specific studies on detection technologies and legal frameworks. NHTSA analyzed laboratory, simulator, and on-road studies to understand drug effects on driving skills. The report examined the Impaired-Driving Detection Process, including the use of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) and the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program, which trains Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) to identify specific drug categories. It also assessed specimen collection methods, noting that while blood testing is the "gold standard," it is invasive and difficult to correlate with impairment levels, whereas oral fluid testing is emerging as a viable roadside option. Additionally, NHTSA conducted a national study on DUID enforcement, though data collection was hindered by the lack of statewide record systems and the inability to distinguish DUID from alcohol-related arrests. Key findings indicate that specific drug concentration thresholds cannot currently be reliably equated with driver impairment. The enforcement study revealed that DUID arrests comprise only 2% to 16% of all impaired driving arrests, with data insufficient to determine the impact of DEC programs or drug *per se* laws on conviction rates. The report highlights that officers often stop investigating for drugs if alcohol impairment is confirmed, partly due to a lack of additional penalties for multiple substance use. Furthermore, an expert panel concluded that while a definitive list of impairing drugs is not yet possible, a tiered protocol for evaluating drugs—starting with pharmacological data and progressing to simulator and on-road testing—is feasible. The report concludes that addressing DUID requires improved detection technologies, standardized toxicology laboratory practices, and enhanced law enforcement training. It recommends developing a model statute for states that includes threshold levels for impairment, practicable detection methods, and appropriate penalties. The findings underscore the need for further research to establish the causal link between specific drugs and crash risk, as well as the synergistic effects of combining drugs with alcohol or other medications.

Key finding

There is currently no accurate and reliable way to measure the level or degree of driving impairment associated with the use of drugs.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• illicit drugs
• polydrug
• dui enforcement
• drowsy as impairment
• cannabis
• prescription meds