Beylich K.M., Christophersen A.S., Skurtveit S., Bjorneboe A., Morland J.

National Institute of Forensic Toxicology, P.O. Box 495 Sentrum, 0105 Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian Road Traffic Act prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other psychoactive drugs. It is a well known problem in Norway that a large proportion of the arrested drunken and drugged drivers are repeat offenders (recidivists). The prevalence of rearrests among drunken drivers has been investigated among 2400 cases selected during 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1992. From each year 200 cases from each of the three following BAC levels were selected: 0,06-0,09%, 0,13-0.16% and 0,26-0,29%. The 600 cases from each year represented 7% of the total number of drivers suspected for driving under the influence of alcohol only, during these years. 45% (n=1080) of the driven were rearrested two or more times when followed retrospectively and prospectively, during 11 years (1984-1994). For all years, the prevalence of rearrest was higher for drivers selected with high BACs (0,26-0,29%), compared to those selected with low BACs (0,06-0,09%). The prevalence of rearrests among drugged drivers has been studed in 1230 cases selected from 1992. Drugs other than alcohol were detected in the blood samples from all these drivers, which were apprehended by the police due to the suspicion of influence by drugs. It was found that 73,5% (n=905) of the drugged drivers wen rearrested during 12 years (1984-1995). The frequency of recidivism among multi-drug users at time of selection was higher (78%) compared to single drug users (22%). When followed prospectively only for the three subsequent years, 54% (n=669) of the drugged driven were rearrested two or more times for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is about three times higher compared with drunken drivers (19%) selected during the same year and followed for the same three year period. Thus, our results show that the frequency of recidivism among drugged driven is significantly higher compared to drunken drivers.