Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jan 2001 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Copyright: 2001 The Sydney Morning Herald Contact: GPO Box 3771, Sydney NSW 2001 Fax: 61-(0)2-9282 3492 Website: http://www.smh.com.au/ Forum: http://forums.fairfax.com.au/ Author: Dr Lyndon Bauer Note: Headline supplied by Newshawk COULD DRUGS CAUSE ROAD DEATH RISE? Random breath testing almost halved the road toll by getting intoxicated drivers off our roads. Seat belts and speed enforcement have also been effective, but nothing has matched the effect of getting intoxicated drivers off the roads. An Australian insurance company survey found one in four male drivers under 34 said they had driven under the influence of a recreational drug other than alcohol. With the recent increases in road deaths paralleling the recent increases in illicit drug abuse, is anyone asking the obvious question: "Could intoxication with drugs other than alcohol be contributing to the increases in road deaths?" Dr Lyndon Bauer, Ourimbah, January 4. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth