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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 10:37 pm
Time: 10:37 pm
Results for sobriety checkpoints, tests (australia)
1 results foundAuthor: Stough, Con Title: An evaluation of the Standardised Field Sobriety Tests for the detection of impairment associated with cannabis with and without alcohol Summary: Reports indicate that in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, 23.5% of drivers in fatal accidents had consumed drugs other than alcohol, and that 29.1% of drivers had a Blood alcohol contentration (BAC) level of 0.05% or higher. Alcohol has been detected in combination with drugs in almost 10% of cases. Cannabis was most prevalent among drugs other than alcohol detected in specimens (13.5%) (Drummer et al., 2003). The combination of drugs as an influence on road traffic accidents is becoming a growing concern and research has been conducted to identify how these drugs impair performance. Krueger & Vollrath (2000) reported that recent consumption of cannabis improved lane positioning; however, when combined with alcohol, lane position deviated, and participants drove faster. The consumption of low dose and high dose cannabis alone has also been associated with an increase in vehicle lane weaving (straddling solid and barrier lines) (Papafotiou, 2004b). Furthermore, a trend towards greater braking latency after consumption of higher doses of cannabis has been reported (Ligouri et al., 1998). Generally, alcohol has been reported to increase hazardous simulated driving, and cannabis has been reported to slow a driver’s speed (Stein et al., 1983). The findings of several studies have directly suggested that the effect of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption on driving performance may be greater for nonregular cannabis users than for regular cannabis users (Marks & MacAvoy, 1989; Wright and Terry, 2002; Papafotiou, 2004c). Wright and Terry (2002) also provide evidence to suggest that regular cannabis users may develop cross-tolerance to the effects of drugs and alcohol. In Victoria, Australia, Standardised Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) have been introduced as means of testing for impairment in drivers who have consumed drugs other than alcohol. The use of SFSTs, although designed for the detection of alcohol-intoxicated drivers (up to 0.08%), has been implemented in programs for the detection of drugs other than alcohol. To date, one study exists that has evaluated the sensitivity of the SFST battery to predict drug intoxication and driving impairment. This project assessed the relationship between each individual sobriety test (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand test) and individual scored signs of the SFSTs with the administration of cannabis (Papafotiou et al., 2004a). Papafotiou et al. (2004a) found that, unlike in the case of alcohol where the HGN test is reported to be the best test for impairment associated with the administration of alcohol, in the case of cannabis the test best related to impairment is the One Leg Stand test. This finding highlights the need for additional research into the relationship between performance on the SFST battery and drug intoxication (drugs other than alcohol). The present study had several aims: to examine the effects of cannabis and cannabis together with alcohol on driving performance; to examine the effects of cannabis and alcohol on Standardised Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) performance; to examine the efficiency of SFSTs to predict driving performance associated with the administration of cannabis and alcohol; to examine any differences between the effects of cannabis and alcohol on performance in regular cannabis users and non-regular cannabis users; and to examine any differences between SFSTs ratings by researchers (Swinburne University) and SFSTs ratings by police officers (Victoria Police) in order to identify the inter-rater reliability of SFSTs. Details: Payneham, Australia: National Drug Law Enforcement Research Fund (NDLERF), 2006. 126p. Source: NDLERF Monography Series No. 17: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2012 at http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/pub/Monograph_17.pdf Shelf Number: 126174 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Australia)Driving Under the Influence (Australia)Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Cannabis (AuDrug-Impaired Driving, Cannabis (Australia)Drugs and Driving, Cannabis (Australia)Drunk Driving (Australia)Sobriety Checkpoints, Tests (Australia) |