In the Autumn of 1997 and 1998, the SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research, in co-operation with Traffic Test and Deltalab, carried out a roadside survey to investigate drug and alcohol use by motorists in the Netherlands. This survey was conducted among a representative sample of 26 research areas, on Friday and Saturday nights between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. Amsterdam was selected twice as research area; measurements were carried out on both a Friday and Saturday night. The main objective of the study was to assess the incidence of drugs, including alcohol, in weekend nighttime motorists in the Netherlands. A total of 1,249 motorists were asked to participate in the study. Of them, 128 (10.2%) refused. From 228 subjects (18.3%), it was not possible to obtain a urine sample although these subjects were interviewed and, if asked, underwent a sweat test. Out of the 893 urine samples, 57 (6.4%) appeared to be positive for drugs. Especially among 18 to 25-year-old male drivers, the incidence of illicit drugs was found to be high. The results also show that driving under the influence of drugs correlates strongly with drink driving. The second objective of the study was to assess the reliability and practical usefulness of sweat and urine testers for the rapid screening of drug use. (A) See also IRRD E20062.
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