title: The additive effects of alcohol and benzodiazepines on driving.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between the combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines and the risk of committing an unsafe driver action.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (1993-2006) on drivers aged 20 or older who were tested for both alcohol and drugs. Using a case-control design, we compared drivers who had at least one unsafe driver action (UDA; e.g., weaving) recorded in relation to the crash (cases) to drivers who did not (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drivers who tested positive for intermediate- and long-acting benzodiazepines in combination with alcohol had significantly greater odds of a UDA compared to those under the influence of alcohol alone, up to blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.08 and 0.05 g/100 ml, respectively. The odds of a UDA with short-acting benzodiazepines combined with alcohol were no different than for alcohol alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the combination of alcohol and benzodiazepines can have detrimental effects on driving beyond those of alcohol alone. By describing these combined effects in terms of BAC equivalencies, this study also allows for the extrapolation of simple, concrete concepts that communicate risk to the average benzodiazepine user.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Care Group, Research Department, Thunder Bay, ON. maxwellh@tbh.net
authors.forename: Hillary G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bédard
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D001569:Benzodiazepines