Press release

15th January 2007

SWOV, together with the police, has started a large scale European study into the use of alcohol, drugs, and medicines in traffic: the DRUID project. Motorists who are breathalyzed at a regular alcohol check, are tested on the use of drugs or medicines on a voluntary basis.

Driver remains anonymous
Police and SWOV emphasize that participation in this study is voluntary and completely anonymous. SWOV researchers will ask a sample of motorists who drive into a police road block to participate in the project. This involves being tested for the use of drugs and medicines besides being tested for alcohol use.

Comparison with crash casualties
The goal of this study is to get a representative picture of the use of alcohol, drugs, and medicine in Dutch traffic. The study also intends to determine how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of these substances. This will be done by comparing the drugs and medicine use of injured motorists with that of uninjured motorists in the roadside study.

Six regions
The study will be carried out the six regions: those of the cities and towns of Amsterdam, Enschede, Groningen, Leiden, Nijmegen, and Tilburg. The measurements will continue up to July 2009.

The dangers of drugs and medicines in traffic researched
DRUID stands for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, alcohol, and medicines.
DRUID should, among other matters, result in:

• Insight in the use and dangers of alcohol, drugs, and medicines in traffic.
• Reliable and practical tracing methods of drugs and medicines.
• Proposals for legislation concerning drugs and medicines in traffic, e.g. uniform limits in all EU countries.