A European study on alcohol and drug use among young drivers: the TEND by Night study design and methodology

Abstract

BackgroundYoung individuals are the age group with the highest risk of car accidents. One of main explanations relies on the use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, illegal and medicinal drugs), which are known to be major risk factors of road accidents, and whose consumption is almost universally more common among younger drivers. Although the correlation between psychoactive substances use and decrease in driving performance has been established in controlled experimental or laboratory settings, few studies were conducted in naturalistic circumstances. The TEND by Night project has been designed to evaluate the relationship between driving performance and psychoactive substances assumption in young drivers enrolled at typical places of consumption.Methods/DesignThe TEND by Night project, endorsed by the European Commission, is a multidisciplinary, multi-centric, cross-sectional study conducted in six European countries (Italy, Belgium/Netherlands, Bulgaria, Spain, Poland and Latvia). The study population consists of 5000 young drivers aged 16-34 years, attending recreational sites during weekend nights. The intervention is based on the portal survey technique and includes several steps at the entrance and exit of selected sites, including the administration of semi-structured questionnaires, breath alcohol test, several drug assumption test, and measurement of the reaction time using a driving simulator. The main outcome is the difference in reaction time between the entrance and exit of the recreation site, and its correlation with psychoactive substances use. As a secondary outcome it will be explored the relationship between reaction time difference and the amount of consumption of each substance. All analyses will be multivariate.DiscussionThe project methodology should provide some relevant advantages over traditional survey systems. The main strengths of the study include the large and multicentric sample, the objective measurement of substance assumption (which is typically self-reported), the application of a portal survey technique and the simultaneous evaluation of several psychoactive substances.

Consistency Between the Subjective Perception of Feeling Indisposed, the Decision to Drive and Driving Performance

“…The cognitive, emotional, and even social deterioration linked to psychophysical changes affecting drivers may result in a decrease of safety while driving [1,14]. That is the reason why we suggest that this problem must be especially considered and, consequently, treated as a priority by the Administration and all the agents involved at the intervention level.…”

“…However, the driver's experience, adequate health conditions, among other factors, mitigates the perceived complexity and implicit risk involved in this task. One of the main explanations for the risk of motor vehicle collisions relies on the skills and conditions to drive a vehicle (or their occasional deterioration due to, for example, the use of psychoactive substances, which are known to be a major risk factor for crashes) [1,2]. In practical terms, any factor that alters the psychophysical abilities, whether physical or psychological, and particularly the acute or chronic processes [3,4], potentially increases the risk of a traffic crash.…”

Binge Drinking and Psychoactive Drug use in a Cohort of European Youths

“…22 Briefly, TEN-D by Night is an international, multicentre, cross-sectional portal survey funded by the European Commission.…”

Exposure to Psychoactive Compounds Amongst Students of Medical University

“…Equally important are the consequences of recreational use of so-called soft drugs (e.g. marijuana smoking) -road accidents, acts of violence, unwanted sexual contacts, and others (3)(4)(5)(6).…”