Methamphetamine and alcohol detection in vehicle‐driver fatalities in South Australia: A 10‐year survey (2008–2018)

Abstract

Motor vehicle driver fatalities (≥18 years) from the files at Forensic Science South Australia were reviewed from January 2008 to December 2018 for cases in which either positive blood sample for methamphetamine (MA) or an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >0.05g/100 ml were found. Three hundred driver deaths were found with MA detected in 28 cases (age range 21–62 years; ave. 37.8 years; M:F 23:5). Hundred and fifteen cases with a BAC > 0.05 g/100 ml were identified (age range 18–67 years; ave 35.7 years; M:F 95:20). No change was found in numbers of MA cases, although alcohol cases showed a significant decline (p < 0.001). Drunk driving‐related fatal crashes tended to occur in the evening (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.), while MA‐related fatal crashes had a longer peak extending from late evening until late morning (11 p.m. to 8 a.m.). This study has demonstrated that while roadside breath testing, legislative changes, and increased monitoring have resulted in reduced levels of drunk driving, similar safety countermeasures have had negligible effects on MA use in drivers. Continued monitoring of MA use by drivers will, therefore, be necessary to assess the possible effects, or not, of new countermeasures.

Work-related and non-work-related fatal road accidents: Assessment of psychoactive substance use in commuting

“…For this reason, research and a number of European systems are searching cut-off values to standardize judgments, to the detriment of the individual's own cognitive state. 21 Monitoring of fatal accidents at work and commuting should be an integral part of these considerations. Data collected via surveillance efforts such as toxicology tests serve as an important source of information for identifying trends in drug and alcohol use among fatally commuting victims.…”

“…For this reason, research and a number of European systems are searching cut-off values to standardize judgments, to the detriment of the individual's own cognitive state. 21…”

“…14 Driving under the influence of illicit drugs is believed to significantly increase the risk of motor vehicle collisions and is a major public health concern. 21 Substance use in fact has been associated with reduced physical coordination, poor judgement and delayed reaction timeall of which impair one's ability to manage work-related hazards, including driving performance. 14,22 Although the study of substance use in driving is rich in contributions, the phenomenon of driving under alcohol and drugs effects in the commuter sub-population, as well as the causality of traffic accidents, has so far been poorly studied.…”

“…Driving under the influence of illicit drugs is believed to significantly increase the risk of motor vehicle collisions and is a major public health concern. 21 Substance use in fact has been associated with reduced physical coordination, poor judgement and delayed reaction time – all of which impair one's ability to manage work-related hazards, including driving performance. 14,22…”

Methamphetamine use in homicide victims

“…3,4 Methamphetamine is also associated with unnatural deaths, with increased rates of accidents (in particular vehicle crashes), suicides and homicides. [5][6][7] In fact, it is the only drug that has been strongly linked to homicide, even compared to cocaine, alcohol, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), phenylcyclidine and heroin, 1 with estimates that users of methamphetamine have a nine times increased risk of committing a homicide. 8 Despite these known associations, there is limited literature on the incidence of methamphetamine use in a specific population subset, the victims of homicide.…”