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    E-ISSN: 2149-4533 ISSN: 1300-865X
    The Evaluation of Driver Behaviors and Skills Relation with Consumption of Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Medicine in Professional Drivers
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    Research Article
    VOLUME: 24 ISSUE: 2
    P: 100-107
    August 2019

    The Evaluation of Driver Behaviors and Skills Relation with Consumption of Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Medicine in Professional Drivers

    The Bulletin of Legal Medicine 2019;24(2):100-107
    DOI: 10.17986/blm.2019250193
    Alev Aktaş 1
    Rukiye Döğer 2
    Serap Annette Akgür 2
    1. Ege Üniversitesi Madde Bağımlılığı, Toksikoloji ve İlaç Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Madde Bağımlılığı Anabilim Dalı, İzmir
    2. Ege Üniversitesi Madde Bağımlılığı, Toksikoloji ve İlaç Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Bağımlılık Toksikolojisi Anabilim Dalı, İzmir
    3. Ege Üniversitesi Madde Bağımlılığı, Toksikoloji ve İlaç Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Bağımlılık Toksikolojisi Anabilim Dalı, İzmir
    No information available.
    No information available
    Received Date: 20.12.2018
    Accepted Date: 29.01.2019
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    ABSTRACT

    Objective:

    Driver behavior and skills are among the main factors that constitute the risk of accidents in traffic. Driving behavior under the influence of alcohol and drug abuse is an important traffic problem that causes deaths, pecuniary damage and injuries. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of alcohol, drug abuse and medicine use in professional drivers and to evaluate the relationship between these substances and driver behavior and skills.

    Materials and Methods:

    The study was performed with 90 professional drivers working in 4 different town of İzmir. questionnaire form, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), CAGE Alcohol Screening Test, Driver Behavior Scale (DBS) and Driving Skills Scale (DSS) were applied to drivers. The data were analyzed statistically with SPSS 18.0 (p <0.05 significance level).

    Results:

    Drivers were between the ages of 20-67 and the average age was 42,9 ± 12,7 years. 46,7% of them have been professional drivers for more than 20 years. The majority of drivers used cigarettes (57,8%) and alcohol (63,3%). The reported substances and drugs use percentage from drivers were 55,6% painkillers to increase their attention and/or alertness in traffic, 12,2% tranquilizers, 1,1% steroids, 20% cannabis, 3,3% amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), 2,2 % synthetic cannabis at least once through their life-time. Significant differences were found between alcohol and cannabis use and errors, rule violations and the ability to safe driving.

    Conclusion:

    It will be useful to consider driving behavior well-rounded with psychological, psychiatric and forensic toxicological aspects. The results of our study showed that drug abuse tests providing a forensic evidence in the workplace and traffic environment are important and needed to be actively applied.

    Keywords: Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Traffic, Driver Behaviors, Driver Skills

    References

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