Driving ability

How does cannabis affect driving ability, and why is it difficult to detect whether someone is driving while intoxicated ... 

Drowsiness is the most frequent side effect, and it can interfere with driving ability or adequate functioning at the workplace. Sedative effects... 

Verster JC et al Residual effects of sleep medication on driving ability. Sleep Med Rev 2004 8 309. [PMID 15233958] Walsh JK Pharmacologic management of insomnia. J Clin Psychiatry 2004 65(Suppl 16) 41. 

Stevenson, G.W. et al., Driving ability after fentanyl or diazepam a controlled double-blind study, Invest. Radiol., 21, 717, 1986. 

Sabatowski, R., Driving ability under long-term treatment with transdermal fentanyl, 3. Pain Symptom Manage., 25, 38, 2003. 

Kurzthaler, I. et al., Effect of cannabis use on cognitive functions and driving ability, J. Clin. Psychiatry, 60, 395, 1999. 

Detergent inhibitor formulation, or direct injection (normally diesel), or drive ability index. 

How much alcohol makes a driver unsafe Defining the amount of alcohol that will produce intoxication or decrease driving ability is difficult. The physical effects depend on the amount and frequency of the dosage plus mental and emotional effects that vary with the setting in which the drug is used and with the mood of the user. There is pressure to lower allowable limits in some states experts feel this would save many lives. 

Brunnauer A, Laux G, Geiger E et al (2006) Antidepressants and driving ability results from a clinical study. J Clin Psychiatry 67 1776-1781... 

Blood concentrations consistent with doses exceeding therapeutic concentrations of zaleplon can impair level of consciousness and driving ability. 

Verster JC, De Weert AM, Bijtjes SI, Aarab M, Van Oosterwijck AW, Eijken EJ, Verbaten MN, Volkerts ER. Driving ability after acute and sub-chronic administration of levocetirizine and diphenhydramine a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacol (Berl) 2003 169 84-90. 

Phase I—Chassis Dynamometer Tests. A 1.3-L engine equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and complete drive system was calibrated to meet 1974 emissions standards using Indolene reference fuel. This standardized apparatus was then used in conjunction with the federal emissions test procedure to evaluate the performance of methanol/gasoline blends. Results of the single cylinder test program and preliminary evaluations with the chassis dynamometer system indicated that blends should be limited to 10% methanol or less to avoid drive-ability and other problems. A complete discussion of the apparatus and test procedures is given in Ref. 9. 

Watanabe, A., Tuchida, T., Yata, Y., Kuwabara, J. Evaluation of neuropsychological function in patients with liver cirrhosis with special reference to their driving ability. Metab. Brain Dis. 1995 10 239-248... 

In a comparison of cetirizine and loratadine, cetirizine 10 mg had acute sedative effects and impaired driving performance (65), whereas loratadine had no sedating potential furthermore, there was an additive effect of alcohol and cetirizine but not alcohol and loratadine. However, in a study using a driving simulator cetirizine 10 mg did not affect driving ability (66). In other studies cetirizine 20 mg caused significant sedation, while in one study there was a dose-dependent sedative effect with 10 mg and 20 mg but not 5 mg (67). Pooling the available data (SEDA-16, 163) shows that cetirizine is little more sedative than loratadine and terfenadine. 

In 104 cases carisoprodol and its metabolite meprobamate were detected in the blood of car drivers who were either involved in accidents or arrested for impaired driving (1). In many of these cases, either alcohol or other nervous system depressants were also found. In 21 cases cariso-prodol/meprobamate were the only drugs detected. Symptoms and reported driving behavior were similar in all cases. Impairment of driving ability appeared to be possible at any concentration of these two drugs. However, the most severe driving impairment and most overt symptoms of intoxication were noted when the combined concentration of carisoprodol and meprobamate exceeded 10 mg/1. 

Physiological Effects Sensorimotor Effects Alcohol and Driving Ability... 

Driving tests do not adequately examine a person s driving ability. Usually the person being tested does not have to drive very far. The test does not require the skills that are used in everyday driving situations. Supervisors of driving tests tend to be very lenient. 

Siegers (1993) has noted a lack of negative impact on driving ability after kava consumption but, unfortunately, details on the dosage were not provided. However, overconsumption and subsequent operation of a motor vehicle resulted in arrest and conviction of a Utah (USA) motorist for driving under the influence of kava. The man told police he had consumed about 16 cups of the beverage, his usual dose being one or two (Swensen, 1996). 

Unfortunately, certain models of dual bed pelleted converters have encountered a mechanical design problem after a period of time in customer use which has resulted in loss of power and drive ability of the vehicles. 

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