Alcohol as a risk factor for accidents among bus drivers

Abstract

Traffic safety is an important issue that needs to be taken into account in developing national policy. Several causes of accidents along the "diver-vehicle-road-environment" chain have been identified, although alcohol consumption seems to be the most important preventable cause. The aim of this paper is to describe the main activities to detect alcohol-related problems among bus drivers with the further going aim to develop public health strategies to decrease the number of traffic accidents. Methods. We analyzed normative documents, laws and edicts of the Russian Ministry of Health directed at reduction of traffic accidents associated with alcohol intoxication among drivers. Results. The main analytic approaches to study risk factors for traffic accidents including alcohol consumption practiced by intersectoral organizations are presented. Special emphasis is given to changes in legal limits of blood alcohol concentrations among the drivers in Russia. The analysis suggests that occupation as a drivers of public buses poses greater demands to physical and mental health. Psychological traits of bus drivers were summarized. Difficulties associated with detection of alcohol abuse and use of other substances among bus drivers were analyzed. The fact of driving a bus under the influence of alcohol should be treated as the use of psychoactive substances with health-related consequences. Data related to substance use obtained at medical checkup of drivers at the beginning of the shift can be transferred to narcological dispensaries (abuse clinics). Conclusions: the suggested algorithm of screening for substance abuse among bus drivers can become the basis for development of medical and psychological prevention directed at reduction of the number of traffic accidents associated with alcohol.