Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in the Netherlands 1995-1998 in view of the German and Belgian legislation

This study presents the test results of blood and urine samples of impaired drivers in the Netherlands between January 1995 and December 1998. In this period, the blood alcohol concentrations of 11,458 samples have been deter mined and 1665 blood or urine samples have been analysed for drugs. The med ian alcohol concentration was between 1.7 and 1.8 mg/ml blood. In 80% of th e 1665 analysed samples drugs were detected. At least 42% (702/1665) of the impaired drivers were poly-drug users. with cocaine present in the most fr equent combinations. In the Netherlands, the procedure to prove driving und er the influence is complex. This procedure can be made more efficient and more effective by embedding the analytical test results, needed to prosecut e an impaired driver, in the law. In Belgium and Germany, such laws already are in force. If we would apply the qualifications of the new Belgian law on our analytical data, 67% of the impaired drivers included in this compar ison could have been prosecuted without discussion in court. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.