Citation

Moser L. Blutalkohol 1974; 11(5): 285-311.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The most obvious method of investigation, the driving test, was ruled out because of the possible accident risk from the effects of drugs. For reasons of of efficiency, it was also decided not to use skill tests and simulators. A preliminary test with a large dosage of drugs preceded the main investigation. The preliminary test was limited to the study of orientation abilities in group experiments, 15 persons in each group, using the double blind method. Objective and method were based on the following reasons: The ability of orientation correlates closely with driving ability, quick and correct reaction is necessarily preceded by quick and right orientation; group tests are economically satisfactory and yet sufficiently reliable to study the ability of orientation by far more economical than reaction tests by means of large Large dosages were chosen to be sure to detect drastic drops in performance, should these be the consequence of taking the medicine in the preliminary test. If this was found to be the case, the main investigation would have been superfluous. The main experiment involved 80 test persons. These were given normal dosage for 3 days. For 2 days thereafter, the dosage was doubled. In group tests and/or only by means of apparatus the test persons were repeatedly checked according to a strict time schedule. The validity rating of all methods, especially in respect to the specific psychophysical performance functions which were of interest in this case, are very good. In one of the test series, test persons were given alcohol in addition to the drug. The dosage was 0.75 of alcohol per kg of weight (roughly 0.08% of blood alcohol content). The expected differential results from the Prazepam experiment indicate that the method that was applied in this case is a good means to obtain meaningful and reliable information economically on the effects of drugs on the intellectual and psychomotoric functions which are essential for driving a vehicle. However, the effects of drugs differ depending on age, sex, personality, constitution and condition.