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Residual effects of hypnotic drugs in aging drivers submitted to simulated accident scenarios: an exploratory study

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Abstract

Rationale

The effects of hypnotic drugs on driving performance are most often evaluated on young healthy subjects by using a monotonous motorway driving test. The effects of drugs in urban driving situations have not yet been evaluated in any age group. Our objectives were to assess residual effects of the most prescribed hypnotics, zolpidem and zopiclone, on older middle-age drivers' capacities in an urban situation.

Materials and methods

Sixteen healthy subjects aged 55 to 65 years underwent this double-blind, balanced, cross-over study. Zopiclone (7.5 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), and flunitrazepam (1 mg; used as positive control) or a placebo were administered at each subject's home at 11:00 pm under the supervision of an investigator. The next morning, the subjects had to drive in a simulated urban environment where accident scenarios were introduced. Accident scenarios were implemented using data from real accident cases.

Results

Hypnotics did not significantly increase the number of collisions. However, significantly higher speeds were found with zopiclone and flunitrazepam; moreover, zolpidem and zopiclone induced modifications of the lateral position of the car on the road.

Conclusions

This study did not reveal any major residual effects of the hypnotics studied on driving performance in aging drivers. However, the urban driving situations used here for the first time in the evaluation of drugs revealed some modifications in driving habits which could lead to risky behavior. It thus appears that urban driving simulations are useful for gaining knowledge about the effects of drugs on driving behavior.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the simulation team at INRETS (Modélisations, simulations et simulateurs de conduite [MSIS]), notably Isabelle Aillerie and Fabrice Vienne, for designing the displays.

This research was supported by a grant from the French National Research Agency, grant no.ANR 05-PDIT-004-10 DACOTA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département Mécanismes d’Accidents, INRETS (French National Institute for Transport and Safety Research), 13300, Chemin de la croix-blanche, Salon de Provence, France

    Mohamed Meskali & Catherine Berthelon

  2. Univ Caen Basse-Normandie, UPRES EA 3917, UFR Médecine, Caen, 14032, France

    Sullivan Marie, Pierre Denise & Marie-Laure Bocca

  3. INSERM, ERI27, Caen, 14032, France

    Sullivan Marie, Pierre Denise & Marie-Laure Bocca

  4. CHRU, Service des explorations fonctionnelles, Caen, 14032, France

    Pierre Denise & Marie-Laure Bocca

  5. Univ Paris-Sud, UPRES EA 4042, Orsay, 91405, France

    Marie-Laure Bocca

  6. INRETS, Chemin de la croix-blanche, 13300, Salon de Provence, France

    Catherine Berthelon

Authors
  1. Mohamed Meskali
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  2. Catherine Berthelon
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  3. Sullivan Marie
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  4. Pierre Denise
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  5. Marie-Laure Bocca
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Catherine Berthelon.

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Meskali, M., Berthelon, C., Marie, S. et al. Residual effects of hypnotic drugs in aging drivers submitted to simulated accident scenarios: an exploratory study. Psychopharmacology 207, 461–467 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1677-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1677-2

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