Drug Research Methodology. Volume 5, Experimentation in Drugs and Highway Safety: The Study of Drug Effects on Skills Related to Driving

Joscelyn, Kent B.; Donelson, Alan C. · 1980 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report summarizes the findings of a workshop on experimental research regarding drugs and highway safety, conducted by the University of Michigan Highway Safety Research Institute for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The study addresses the lack of established evidence linking specific drugs, other than alcohol, to increased traffic crash probabilities. Motivated by the need to define methodological directions for future research, the workshop aimed to resolve issues in measuring drug effects on driving-related skills and to identify valid surrogate measures for assessing highway safety risk. The methodology involved an interdisciplinary panel of experts in behavioral psychology, pharmacology, toxicology, and human factors research. The panel reviewed findings from preceding workshops, including a ranked list of drugs of interest based on perceived risk potential. They examined methodological approaches for experimental research, which is defined as studies under controlled conditions measuring drug effects on driving skills. The discussion covered various testing methods, ranging from simple psychomotor skill tests and driving simulators to closed-course and on-road driving tests. The panel also addressed critical issues such as the comparability of experimental studies, the use of alcohol as a standard reference drug, the selection of experimental subjects, and the face validity of experimental research. Key findings include the identification of significant methodological challenges in experimental drug and driving research. The panel noted that existing knowledge is fragmentary due to unsystematic research and a lack of comparability between studies. They highlighted the complexity of the driving task, which resists complete analysis, and the ethical, legal, and safety constraints of testing under actual driving conditions. While simpler behavioral tests may tap into important driving skills, the relationship between these measures and actual driving consequences remains unclear. The panel also discussed the potential for subjects to compensate for drug-induced impairments during testing, which may not reflect routine driving behavior. Additionally, the panel reviewed the list of drugs of interest, suggesting adjustments to the ranking of certain substances like antidiabetic agents and volatile solvents, and noting the omission of nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide. The significance of this report lies in its provision of a structured framework for future experimental research on drugs and driving. By identifying specific methodological issues and proposing approaches to resolve them, the report aims to guide NHTSA-sponsored research efforts. It emphasizes the need for valid surrogate measures of driving performance and improved experimental designs to assess the risk potential of various drugs. The conclusions and recommendations presented are intended to enhance the precision of future research and contribute to a better understanding of the drug and driving problem, ultimately supporting efforts to improve highway safety.

Key finding

Experimental research on drug effects on driving skills is currently fragmented and unsystematic, lacking comparable methodologies and valid surrogate measures for assessing highway safety risk.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• illicit drugs
• polydrug
• prescription meds
• cannabis
• alcohol
• opioids

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, measurement protocol