PIRE - Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

Driving Impairment

The use of illicit drugs can lead to problems associated with use, including driving while impaired. Driving while impaired leads to an increased risk of traffic crashes. PIRE research has shown how law enforcement agencies can detect illicit drug use among drivers.

The Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program, funded by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and managed by PIRE, uses standardized evaluations and drug tests (urinalysis and blood) to identify drivers under the influence of illicit drugs. Trained law enforcement officers - Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) - evaluate suspects who are believed to be under the influence of drugs, but who do not have a sufficiently high blood alcohol content to justify a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. DREs are trained to detect depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, PCP, narcotics, inhalants, and cannabis (marijuana).

In addition, PIRE research has also shown that the use of "club drugs," including ecstasy, Ketamine, GHB, and Rohypnol, can lead to traffic crashes.

The items below are selected from the PIRE Resource Finder, which you can search for more publications, staff, etc., on any aspect of this topic.

Published Literature

Citizen Reporting of DUI-Extra Eyes to Identify Impaired Driving (2005). Author(s): Kelley-Baker, Tara; Lacey, John; Brainard, Katharine; Kirk, Hillary; and Taylor, Eileen

Interlocks: An effective but underutilized component of DUI sentencing, Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (2005). Author(s): Voas, R.B.,

Controlling Impaired Driving Through Vehicle Programs: An Overview, Traffic Injury Prevention (2004). Author(s): Voas, R. B.; Fell, James C.; McKnight, Scott A.; and Sweedler, Barry M.

Emerging Technological Approaches for Controlling the Hard Core DUI Offender in the U.S, Traffic Injury Prevention (2004). Author(s): Voas, R. B.; and Marques, Paul R.

Why are sobriety checkpoints not widely adopted as an enforcement strategy in the United States?, Accident Analysis and Prevention (2003). Author(s): Fell, J.C.; Ferguson, S.A.; Williams, A.F.; and Fields, M.

Evaluation of a program to motivate impaired driving offenders to install ignition interlocks, Accident Analysis and Prevention (2002). Author(s): Voas, Robert B.; Blackman, K. O.; Tippetts, A. S.; and Marques, P. R.

Alcohol and highway safety 2001: a review of the state of the knowledge (2001). Author(s): Jones, R.K.; and Lacey, J.H.

Keeping us on track: a national program to reduce impaired driving in the United States, Journal of Substance Abuse (2001). Author(s): Fell, J.C.

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Staff Experts

James C. Fell, MS, Senior Research Scientist II

Deborah A. Fisher, PhD, Research Scientist

Tara Kelley-Baker, PhD, Senior Research Scientist I

John H. Lacey, MPH, Center Director, Senior Program Director

Scott McKnight, B.A., Program Director

Robert Voas, PhD, Senior Research Scientist II

PIRE Projects

BAC Test Refusals: Are Impaired Driving Laws Threatened?, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (8/1/2005 - 6/30/2008)

Examine Four Enforcement Strategies for Driving While Impaired, Bedford Research (7/18/2005 - 1/18/2010)

Effect of Various Underage Drinking Laws and Their Enforcement on Youthful Traffic Deaths, Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (6/1/2005 - 3/31/2008)

Evaluation of NHTSA's Cooperative Agreement to Conduct a Comprehensive Impaired Driving Program in one (1) State, NHTSA (8/31/2004 - 8/30/2007)

Pilot Test of the New Roadside Methodology for Impaired Driving, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (6/23/2004 - 12/30/2005)

Evaluation and Expansion of Drug Evaluation and Classification Management, Drug Recognition Expert Data Collection and Tracking Program, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (8/7/2003 - 12/7/2007)

Replicate & Evaluate Promising Strategies to Reduce Alcohol Impaired Driving by 21-34 Year Olds, NHTSA ( - 6/8/2008)

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