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Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) due to impaired driving are a leading cause of preventable injury and death and Canadians perceive impaired driving as the most important road safety issue today. Alcohol is well known to impair driving performance and crash risk increases with the amount consumed. Coroners’ studies and trauma center data show that alcohol is involved in about one third of MVCs resulting in serious injury or death. Many illicit drugs such as cannabis, over the counter medications such as antihistamines, and prescription medications such as benzodiazepines, also impair the psychomotor skills required for safe driving. Drivers may be able to compensate for impairment by driving more slowly or engaging in fewer risky maneuvers, but epidemiological evidence suggests that cannabis and benzodiazepines do increase the risk of crashing in real world driving conditions. For other illicit drugs and for other classes of prescription medications the epidemiological evidence for increased risk of crashing is very limited. Compared to drunk driving, drug driving remains poorly understood. It is important for road safety stakeholders to know the prevalence of drug driving, which impairing drugs are most commonly used by drivers, and which drivers are most likely to use drugs. This information can help public health agencies and road safety organizations develop public education and awareness campaigns. Healthcare personnel can use this information to develop medication warnings or interventions that target high risk drivers. Police agencies can develop drugged driving enforcement campaigns that target high risk drugs and drivers.

à remercier les pairs qui ont donné généreusement leur temps, leur savoir et leur efforts à la révision d'articles pour le journal.La révision par les pairs est une composante essentielle à la crédibilité et au succès d'une revue médicale.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.