The ill effects of alcohol on driving are well known, and the foundations of national policies in this regard are quite sound. But there is still considerable uncertainty about the impact of illegal drugs - consumed alone or together with alcohol or medicine - on the ability to drive. Approaches sometimes place emphasis on road safety aspects, and sometimes on drug policies. The Pompidou Group, the Council of Europe body responsible for addressing drug problems and drug addiction, set out at a seminar in April 1999 to take stock of knowledge and experience on the subject.
The participants - researchers, practitioners and officials from twenty-eight countries together with European Union specialists - exchanged information and views on the prevalence of the phenomenon, existing legal provisions and practices, and prevention and rehabilitation measures.
This book contains the seminar's main reports, presentations and proposals, which are a very valuable contribution to a discussion that has only just begun.