Prevalence of alcohol and drugs among drivers killed in road traffic crashes in Norway during 2011–2020

Figures & data

Table 1. Prevalence (numbers in brackets) of alcohol and drug groups in concentrations at or above the legal limits for drivers killed in road traffic crashes in Norway during 2011–2020.

	Test results at or above legal limits^a; % (n)
	Drivers of cars and vans (n = 449)	Drivers of motorcycles and mopeds (n = 137)	Drivers of other motor vehicles (n = 59)	Total (n = 645)
Any substance	28.5 (128)	22.6 (31)	20.3 (12)	26.5 (171)
Alcohol	16.0 (72)	8.8 (12)	15.3 (9)	14.4 (93)
Any drug	17.4 (78)	15.3 (21)	5.1 (3)	15.8 (102)
Any illicit drug^b	10.7 (48)	13.1 (18)	5.1 (3)	10.7 (69)
THC (Cannabis)	8.0 (36)	9.5 (13)	3.4 (2)	7.9 (51)
Amphetamines^c	4.7 (21)	5.8 (8)	1.7 (1)	4.7 (30)
Any medicinal drug^d	11.8 (53)	8.0 (11)	1.7 (1)	10.1 (65)

^a BAC ≥0.02% or drug concentrations at the lowest sanction level or higher (see online supplement Table A1).

^b Includes tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and 3,4-methyl enedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA).

^c Includes amphetamine and methamphetamine.

^d Includes benzodiazepines, z-hypnotics, and the opioids buprenorphine, methadone, and morphine; see Table A2 for details.

Figure 1. Annual numbers of motor vehicle drivers killed in road traffic crashes and numbers analyzed for alcohol and drugs in blood with regression lines.

Table 2. Prevalence (numbers in brackets) of alcohol and drug concentrations indicating impairment and witness reports indicating impairment for non-tested drivers.

	Drivers of cars and vans (n = 585)	Drivers of motorcycles and mopeds (n = 190)	Drivers of other motor vehicles (n = 88)	Total (n = 863)
Alcohol/drug tested (n)	449	137	59	645
Likely impaired^a	24.9 (112)	19.7 (27)	15.3 (9)	22.9 (148)
Not tested (n)	136	53	29	218
Likely impaired^b	14.7 (20)	15.1 (8)	10.3 (3)	14.2 (31)
Likely impaired in total	22.6 (132)	18.4 (35)	13.6 (12)	20.7 (179)

^a BAC > 0.05% or drug concentrations at the medium sanction level or higher (see online supplement Table A1).

^bWitness reports indicating impairment.

Figure 2. Proportion (%) of drivers killed in road traffic crashes (n = 645) who tested positive for alcohol, illicit drugs, medicinal drugs, and any substance, across age groups, and sexes.

Figure 3. Proportion (%) of drivers killed in road traffic crashes (n = 645) who tested positive for alcohol, illicit drugs, medicinal drugs, and any substance, across time intervals. WD = weekdays; WE = weekends.

Table 3. Prevalence (numbers in brackets) of alcohol and drug groups in concentrations at or above the legal limits in blood samples from the car and van drivers and motorcycle and moped riders killed in road traffic crashes, in total, for the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2020.

	2001–2010 (n = 883)	2011–2020 (n = 586)
Any substance found	37.1 (328)	27.1 (159)*
Alcohol	23.4 (207)	14.3(84)*
Any drug	19.9 (176)	16.9 (99)
Any illicit drug	12.9 (114)	11.2 (66)
THC	6.6 (58)	8.4 (49)
Amphetamines	8.4 (74)	4.9 (29)**
Any medicinal drug	12.9 (114)	10.9 (64)

* p < 0.001.

** p < 0.02.

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