Evidence continues to accumulate of the impairing nature of illicit drugs on driving and the prevalence of use among crash and non-crash involved drivers. The prevalence of illicit substances among drivers varies with the type of substance and whether the driver was involved in a crash. For example, illicit substances of all types have been detected in up to 33% of fatally injured drivers with cannabis being the most frequently detected substance. Among non-crash involved drivers, between 4%-18% self-report having driven after using illicit drugs, while up to 5.5% of drivers subject to a roadside oral fluids test have tested positive. Research has also identified that certain drivers have a higher risk of illicit drug driving, including males, younger age persons and those that engage in other on-road risk behaviours such as failing to wear a seat-belt, drink-driving, and unlicensed driving. In Western Australia, the most comprehensive investigation to date of the involvement of illicit drugs among fatally injured drivers was for those killed during the period 1995-1999. More recently, the Road Safety Council of Western Australia in 2008 commenced the annual reporting of the involvement of illicit drugs among fatally injured drivers. These annual analyses are however, limited to descriptive details such as the type of substance, age group and gender, road user status, and day of week. Consequently they fail to provide a detailed understanding of the trend and pattern of illicit drug involvement over time and associated driver and crash type risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the problem of illicit drug-driving in Western Australia using two sources of data: Western Australia Police (WAPOL) reports of the crashes and toxicology findings of fatally injured drivers/riders, and, WAPOL records of drivers/riders charged with illicit drugs in oral fluids offences. The specific objectives of the study were to: 1. Report the prevalence, trend and characteristics of illicit drug related motor vehicle driver and motorcycle rider fatalities over the period 2000-2012. 2. Statistically model the driver/rider and crash risk factors for an illicit drug involved fatality. 3. Report the prevalence, trend and characteristics of Section 64AC offences of the Western Australian Road Traffic Act (Driving with prescribed illicit drugs in oral fluids) associated with Western Australian Polices’ roadside drug testing program for prescribed illegal substances (e.g., THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA) during the period 2008-2012. 4. Statistically model the driver/rider risk factors for offence recidivism and multiple illicit substance use. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting