Abstract
Driving is an important task that demands the full attention of the driver. There are many different factors that can compromise driving performance and lead to vehicle crashes. Perhaps two of the most common, yet also the most dangerous, are drug (including alcohol) influences on driving and distractions using handheld devices like cell phone calls and/or texting. Although each of these driving disruptors has been studied separately and has been shown to adversely affect driving performance, there is a paucity of data regarding the effects of these driving disruptors when combined. Given the explosion of handheld electronic devices, and the likelihood that drivers are using these devices when they are driving, it is not surprising that reports of crashes relating to this 'triple threat' combination of drugs (including alcohol), texting and driving are on the rise and in the news. Clearly, this 'triple threat' of texting, drugs and driving is a problem that requires research attention.
Highlights
Driving a motor vehicle is an important task that demands the full attention of the driver
Previous studies have reported on the adverse effects of alcohol on driving performance; these studies have included epidemiological studies, real-world driving, simulator studies, and a variety of functional studies examining one or more component of the skills required for driving [1]
The good news is that the frequency of alcohol-related crashes and alcohol-related driving deaths has dropped dramatically over the past 30 years [7], alcohol continues to be a major problem on the roads; in the United States, approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol at BAC > 0.01% [5]
Summary
Ammar A, Blanchette A, Sale D, LaForest D, Palumbo T, Swift A, Head D and Commissaris RL*. Wayne State University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, USA. Received date: November 27, 2015; Accepted date: February 23, 2016; Published date: February 29, 2016
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