Citation

Hawkins A, Bryant P, Zipparo L. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2004; 8(2).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The focus of the paper is the classification of drug users into risk categories for driving and reporting on issues relating to deterrence for drug drivers and drug users who do not drive while affected by drugs. Cluster analysis revealed three types of drug driver, "high risk" "low risk" and "low knowledge". The low knowledge and low risk groups were receptive to more information about the effects of drugs on the skills and behaviors required to drive a vehicle. The main factors that differentiated drug drivers from drug users who did not drive were attitudinal rather than demographic. Drug drivers were more likely to believe that the drugs they took did not effect their driving abilities, did not cause them to take more risks, and were unlikely to lead them to being caught. Drug drivers were most likely to be deterred if they felt they might get caught drug driving. This study suggests that changing the behavior of drug drivers can be achieved by increasing perceptions of the risk of being caught as well as providing more information targeted to drug users about the effects of drugs on driving.