Illicit drugs and fitness to drive: assessment in Spanish medical driving test centres

FRANÇAIS :
Selon les législations espagnoles et européennes, le permis de conduire ne peut être délivré ou renouvelé à des personnes ayant des problèmes de consommation de drogues. Dans les centres espagnols de contrôle médical d'aptitude à la conduite, seulement 0,3% des personnes interrogées, prétendent avoir des consommations problématiques de drogues illicites et la moitié y associent l'alcool. Les conducteurs usagers de drogues sont plus souvent impliqués dans les accidents de la circulation ou ont commis des infractions multiples au cours de l'année passée. Malgré cela les suspensions de permis sont assez rares.
ENGLISH :
This study investigated the incidence of problems related to illicit drugs and fitness to drive among 8043 Spanish drivers assessed in 25 Medical Driving Test Centres at national level. In accordance with Spanish and European Union legislation, driving licences cannot be issued or renewed to people suffering from illicit drug-related problems. A small percentage (0.3%; n = 24) of drivers interviewed had problems relating to drug use (abuse, dependence and induced disorders) and half of them (n = 12) were also diagnosed as having problems with alcohol. Drivers with illicit drug-related problems were more often involved in road accidents and committed more traffic infractions during the last year (33.3%, n = 8, and 79.2%, n = 19, respectively) than those without problems related to illegal drug taking (12.3%, n = 986, and 9.3%, n = 748, respectively). Of drivers with drug problems 70.8% (n = 17) were considered fit to drive. The results show that the incidence of drug-related problems is rare among Spanish drivers, and that in three out of four cases drivers with drug-related problems were considered fit to drive. (Author's abstract.)