This report contains a systematic review, analysis and compilation of the scientific literature on „PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/DRUGS“. It considers more than 700 references on this issue for the period from 1992 to 2002. Diversity on this issue and related literature arises from the fact that the activities to prevent drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs and medicine are not just manifold but are based on various assumptions – not always mentioned explicitly - and approaches are often combined. Since the problems that are addressed in this regard find their background in human behaviour itself, this report is mainly written from a psychological viewpoint. It starts with a chapter on detection of impaired driving. Detection is - and will always be - a key element in preventative activities against DUI. Some attention is given to the opportunities of the police to meet these expectations on the road. One chapter of this report is dedicated to the description of the legal situation in various countries. The present report also pays attention to the discussions on legal limits of alcohol and drugs and also on special regulations for professional drivers. Social, political and technical activities to prevent DUI are described in a further chapter. Another chapter puts a focus on characteristics of young drivers and methods to prevent them from driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It outlines typical individual attitudes, habits and conditions which characterise drunk drivers and continues with a description of psychologically based measures and interventions. An additional section is dedicated to high risk drivers others than young drivers - those drivers with high blood alcohol concentration (BAC), drug consumption and with repeated offences. Approaches applied in the United States and in Europe are listed separately due to the different power of license administration. Finally, the last chapter reviews the experience with rehabilitation programmes. Within the last three decades „Driver Improvement“ has made a strong development in some European countries, but is still far from becoming common practice. It is obvious, that any literature on alcohol and drugs is written from an individual viewpoint, largely determined by the authors’ cultural origins. Reviewing literature is therefore difficult as definitions of facts do not match exactly because of the varying consideration of DUI in several countries. The definition of drunk driving seems to be an agreed matter only at first sight. Alcohol limits differ between the countries, but even same legal limits do not really tell what will be treated as drunk driving in different legislation. To understand the real consequences of drunk driving for each DUI driver the opportunities of the police, tolerance levels, swiftness of adjudication, strictness of sanctioning, kind of sanctions, enforcement of unlicensed driving, quality of measures accompanying license suspension, procedures for license reissue need a careful consideration. With respect to drugs the legal definitions of impaired driving vary even more extensively between the countries (impairment approach versus zero tolerance). These differences mean that comparison of policies and legislation against DUI can only be discussed on a very general level. Besides these differences this report presents also a list of countermeasures against DUI. Not every experience made in some place of the world can be implemented elsewhere, but some measures should be beneficial in any place, if certain conditions for effectiveness are considered. Some of the most relevant issues are as follows: When looking at infrastructure, there is no doubt that public transport can reduce DUI (not all cases but some of them). Regarding legislation, a set of measures can be recommended: a central license register (Germany), evidential breath testing (Austria), availability of breathalisers for any police patrol, random breath testing (Australia), measures which ensure quick adjudication of sanctions and accompanying measures. Awareness can be enhanced by provision of evidence on impairment caused by alcohol/drugs (mass media, driver education etc.), increased perceived risk of detection, rewarding designated drivers. Driver Education could provide the opportunity to compare one’s performance (on simulator) impaired and not impaired. Participation in rehabilitation programmes should become a condition to regain license. Rehabilitation programmes need a high standard (professional psychological programmes or in certain cases also medical treatment) and quality assurance systems. Initiatives towards a European harmonisation are considered important to enhance awareness of the problem and make prevention of DUI more effective. But more than just legal initiatives are needed - the establishment of a thematic network on DUI is suggested. Communication about prevention of DUI should get a new initiative on a broader basis. Among other issues, this network should: harmonise the terminology and definitions related to DUI, aggregate in-depth information (qualitative and quantitative) on DUI politics, legislation, social and technical measures, establish monitoring systems to evaluate trends (epidemiological data) and measures on an international level, agree on preventative measures covering larger ones than just national jurisdictions (e.g. EU), integrate the evidence on drugs and driving coming from health sciences, epidemiology, safety research and legislation. Such a network should bring up the discussion to a broader level concerning issues, cultures and professions involved. This could result in an increase of problem wareness and increased knowledge about appropriate measures(Author/publisher)
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