This study investigates the prevalence of recent use of potentially driver impairing medications and driving after use among U.S. drivers.
July 2022
Suggested Citation
Many prescription and over-the-counter medications have potential effects that adversely impact driving, including dizziness, sleepiness, fainting, blurred vision, slowed movement, and problems with attention. Drivers may take one or more potentially driver impairing medications but may not be aware of the possible impacts on driving. This study utilized data from a survey of driving behavior in the United States in 2021 to quantify the prevalence of recent use of potentially driver impairing medication and driving after use, and to assess the association of healthcare provider warnings regarding medication effects with drivers’ likelihood of driving shortly after use.
The current study investigated the prevalence of recent use of potentially driver impairing (PDI) medications in a representative sample of U.S. drivers. Data were from the Traffic Safety Culture Index, a national online survey of driver behavior carried out annually. In 2021, a set of questions was included on the use of six classes of prescription and over-the-counter medications, which were selected on the basis of their potential to impair driving and their having been detected in drivers in other recent studies. For each PDI medication that a respondent reported using, they were asked whether they had driven within two hours of using it. Respondents were also asked whether the medication was prescribed to them, and if so, whether a health care provider (e.g., a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) had spoken with them about the possible side effects of the medication and its likely impacts on driving. (Response options for all questions were yes, no, and I don’t remember.)
The survey was administered in English and Spanish from July to August 2021 and the study was based on the responses of 2,657 respondents ages 16 and older who reported they possessed a valid driver’s license and had driven in the 30 days before they completed the questionnaire. Data were weighted to project results from the survey sample to the population of all U.S. drivers. All analyses were conducted using weighted data.
Suggested Citation