Citation

Verstraete AG. Blutalkohol 2000; 37(2): 7-13.

Affiliation

Lab. of Clinical Biology-Toxicology, University Hospital, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Some studies have shown that there is a universally recognised need for the development of a valid, rapid and affordable roadside test for the major drugs [1]. In countries with impairment-type legislation, roadside analysis can confirm the suspicion of the police officer and focus the attention on drugs. In countries with 'per se' legislation, screening devices are crucial for the detection of driving under the influence of drugs, before further measures (e.g. blood sampling) can be taken. After a call for proposals of DG7 (Transport) of the European Union, a consortium of 12 contractors (national toxicology institutes, university departments of legal medicine, manufacturers) was selected. The project started in January 1999 and has a duration of 21 months. It includes a literature survey of drugs and medicines that have a detrimental impact on road users' performance, an inventory of the roadside drug testing equipment for urine, sweat and saliva, an evaluation of the operational, user and legal requirements for roadside testing equipment in the different EU countries and an extensive evaluation of several devices in 8 countries. The experience gained in the project will allow to make recommendations for the use and further development of roadside drug testing. The results will be made available on the website: www.rosita.org.

DWI; DUI