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

Abstract

Motor vehicle driver fatalities (≥18years) 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/100ml were found. Three hundred driver deaths were found with MA detected in 28 cases (age range 21-62years; ave. 37.8years; M:F 23:5). Hundred and fifteen cases with a BAC>0.05g/100ml were identified (age range 18-67years; ave 35.7years; 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 (5p.m. to 11p.m.), while MA-related fatal crashes had a longer peak extending from late evening until late morning (11p.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.