After several years of discussion a law voted by the parliament in December 1999, finally published in the French regulations, has established that the drivers involved in fatal accidents will be checked, from October 1st, 2001, for illicit drugs. This law was explained as created to improve the knowledge in the "new" field of illicit drugs and driving, and to bring to justice and to regulatory authorities, the information necessary to know if drug related accidents are or are not a traffic safety issue. It is supposed to be more an epidemiological approach, but, in fact, the results of the investigations will be given to the investigating magistrates. They will have, in many cases, enough information to sue the drugged drivers concerned and to request from the court, aggravated sanctions. The first results of this new law will be given and the problems faced in its implementation will be discussed. (Abstract only) (Author/publisher) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD Abstract No. E201067.
Abstract