The University of Sydney is hailing a ‘world first’ study into heavy methamphetamine (meth) use and impaired driving ability.
Methamphetamines, such as ‘ice’ and ‘speed’, dominate incidences of driving under the influence of drugs amongst truck drivers and four of them were involved in the effort overseen by Dr David Bosanquet from the university’s School of Psychology.
By Rob McKay | August 3, 2012
The University of Sydney is hailing a ‘world first’ study into heavy methamphetamine (meth) use and impaired driving ability.
Methamphetamines, such as ‘ice’ and ‘speed’, dominate incidences of driving under the influence of drugs amongst truck drivers and four of them were involved in the effort overseen by Dr David Bosanquet from the university’s School of Psychology.
The study – Driving on ice: impaired driving skills in current methamphetamine users – tested 39 participants, divided into one group of methamphetamine-dependent users and a control group of non-users.
They used a STISIM Drive Training Simulator in a car body to ‘drive’ a virtual but realistic 9.5 km course that replicated rural to urban landscapes.
They were told to that they were to drive to a destination while observing all road rules
to meet a friend who might leave if they are slow to get there.
While it may be self-evident that meth users drive faster and more riskily and erratically, the value for the researchers was in being able to measure how much and determine through what behaviour.
“The risk of crash involvement is thought to double for every 5 km/h travelled over the speed limit and, here, meth users, on average, drove 5 km/h over the posted speed limit, suggesting an increased crash risk,” the report says.
“The finding that meth users are significantly more likely to speed is a novel finding given that speed has generally not been characterised as a variable that has been sensitive to drug effects in driving simulator studies.”
The study found meth-dependent drivers exceeded the speed limit over about 80 percent more distance than others, drove faster on average and were more prone to weave, both within lanes and when overtaking.
Meth users were also prone to leaving a shorter gap between their vehicle and oncoming traffic when making a right-hand turn.
Bosanquet would not be drawn on the tendency to speed and drive erratically amongst meth users and any possible link with the leading cause of truck accidents being driving at the wrong speed for the conditions.
A larger study would be needed to “tease out” such details, he says.
Apart from the illegality of its use, Bosanquet acknowledges that small amounts of meth have been shown to “offset the effects of fatigue and by doing that to improve performance” for a limited time.
Indeed, the report notes its use during US military action during Operation Desert Storm.
But the report points to serious attendant risks, illustrated by the presence of meth in 4.1 percent of general road deaths.
In relation to trucking, Bosanquet says: “We don’t know enough about the drug [for drivers to think] ‘this is going to improve my performance, therefore I’m going to take it’ – that would be a mistake.”
The study makes plain that drivers using meth are doing great damage to their health to the point of killing themselves through its use, as well as others through its impact on their behaviour.
“Meth can be a highly addictive drug, and chronic heavy use has been linked to neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, an psychosis,” it says.
“Serious physical complications linked to heavy meth use include cardiac arrhythmias, heart attacks, hyperthermia, renal and liver failure, strokes and seizures.
“Despite the widespread use of meth, there are few effective psychological or pharmacological treatments availablefor dependent users.”
