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Abstract
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The emergence of drug-impaired driving, notably marijuana-impaired driving, is a priority concern among road safety stakeholders. In particular, the availability and potency of marijuana has increased, and the legalization of different forms of marijuana has occurred in many jurisdictions around the world. Moreover, this drug type has warranted greater attention in light of evidence suggesting that marijuana is more commonly detected in fatally injured drivers than other types of illicit drugs.1
Of equal concern, in comparison to alcohol, much less is known about marijuana and driving in terms of the prevalence of the problem, the consequences on driving performance, and strategies to manage marijuana-impaired drivers. In sharp contrast, alcohol-impaired driving has been a topic of research for more than 60 years and the knowledge base and evidence are well- established. A clear understanding of the concentration-response relationship of alcohol has helped structure laws and enforcement efforts related to alcohol-impaired driving. Furthermore, roadside detection methods and measures of impairment are standardized for alcohol, and the knowledge base regarding alcohol countermeasures is also more advanced.
For these reasons, substantial investment in research about marijuana-impaired driving is essential to inform solutions. It is imperative that research is pursued across disciplines to increase the understanding of the problem and inform strategies to protect the public and reduce the incidence of fatalities and injuries as a result of marijuana-impaired driving. As a precursor to these research efforts, more robust and better data are paramount to create a strong foundation to increase knowledge and understanding of this issue. Practical strategies to fill these data gaps developed with the consideration of process variables and outcomes measures can help strengthen data collection efforts.
To this end, this report describes eight priority research topics that span several disciplines and identifies the top research needs in each area that are crucial to increase the understanding of this issue. These high-level research needs are based on key areas that emerged from the Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee midyear meeting in August 2017, and special session on marijuana and driving at the 97th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, organized by the Alcohol, Other Drugs and Transportation Committee, and hosted by TIRF. Agendas for these meetings are in the Appendix. The eight priority topics include:
• Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol and Marijuana,
• Legislation and Enforcement,
• Prosecution and Courts,
• Toxicology,
• Supervision,
• Treatment,
• Public Policy, and
• Public Education and Awareness.
For each topic, current knowledge and important caveats are briefly summarized to provide context, and then key research questions are presented. The rationale for prioritizing each question is highlighted, and the topics and their associated research questions within each section are discussed relative to the chronological flow of a drug-impaired driving case through the criminal justice system. Of course, the research needs outlined in this report do not comprise an exhaustive list; instead this report highlights the most salient research questions that are viewed as priorities to be addressed by road safety stakeholders in the next decade.
Language: en |