Joris C Verster1, Thomas Roth. 1. Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The traditional outcome measure of the Dutch on-the-road driving test is the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), the weaving of the car. This paper explores whether excursions out-of-lane are a suitable additional outcome measure to index driving impairment. METHODS: A literature search was conducted to search for driving tests that used both SDLP and excursions out-of-lane as outcome measures. The analyses were limited to studies examining hypnotic drugs because several of these drugs have been shown to produce next-morning sedation. RESULTS: Standard deviation of lateral position was more sensitive in demonstrating driving impairment. In fact, solely relying on excursions out-of-lane as outcome measure incorrectly classifies approximately half of impaired drives as unimpaired. The frequency of excursions out-of-lane is determined by the mean lateral position within the right traffic lane. Defining driving impairment as having a ΔSDLP > 2.4 cm, half of the impaired driving tests (51.2%, 43/84) failed to produce excursions out-of-lane. Alternatively, 20.9% of driving tests with ΔSDLP < 2.4 cm (27/129) had at least one excursion out-of-lane. CONCLUSIONS: Excursions out-of-lane are neither a suitable measure to demonstrate driving impairment nor is this measure sufficiently sensitive to differentiate adequately between differences in magnitude of driving impairment.
BACKGROUND: The traditional outcome measure of the Dutch on-the-road driving test is the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), the weaving of the car. This paper explores whether excursions out-of-lane are a suitable additional outcome measure to index driving impairment. METHODS: A literature search was conducted to search for driving tests that used both SDLP and excursions out-of-lane as outcome measures. The analyses were limited to studies examining hypnotic drugs because several of these drugs have been shown to produce next-morning sedation. RESULTS: Standard deviation of lateral position was more sensitive in demonstrating driving impairment. In fact, solely relying on excursions out-of-lane as outcome measure incorrectly classifies approximately half of impaired drives as unimpaired. The frequency of excursions out-of-lane is determined by the mean lateral position within the right traffic lane. Defining driving impairment as having a ΔSDLP > 2.4 cm, half of the impaired driving tests (51.2%, 43/84) failed to produce excursions out-of-lane. Alternatively, 20.9% of driving tests with ΔSDLP < 2.4 cm (27/129) had at least one excursion out-of-lane. CONCLUSIONS: Excursions out-of-lane are neither a suitable measure to demonstrate driving impairment nor is this measure sufficiently sensitive to differentiate adequately between differences in magnitude of driving impairment.
Authors: Rebecca L Hartman; Timothy L Brown; Gary Milavetz; Andrew Spurgin; Russell S Pierce; David A Gorelick; Gary Gaffney; Marilyn A Huestis Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2015-06-23 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo; Vanessa E Wilkinson; Jennifer M Cori; Justine Westlake; Bronwyn Stevens; Luke A Downey; Brook A Shiferaw; Shantha M W Rajaratnam; Mark E Howard Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2019-09-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Ashley Brooks-Russell; Tim Brown; Kyle Friedman; Julia Wrobel; John Schwarz; Gregory Dooley; Karen A Ryall; Benjamin Steinhart; Elise Amioka; Gary Milavetz; George Sam Wang; Michael J Kosnett Journal: Accid Anal Prev Date: 2021-08-14
Authors: F R J Vinckenbosch; A Vermeeren; J C Verster; J G Ramaekers; E F Vuurman Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2020-01-03 Impact factor: 4.530