Virginia Beach to be site of car crash and drug use study

Early next year Virginia Beach will be home to a team of researchers looking to talk with drivers about their drug habits.  The study’s authors are trying to determine how drug use (prescription, over-the-counter and illegal) affects a driver’s likelihood of being involved in an auto accident.

The study isn’t cheap.  It is costing about $4 million and involves interviewing 7,500 people: 2,500 who have been involved in traffic accidents and 5,000 who have not.  The study will be voluntary, and those who participate will be asked to complete a survey and provide saliva and blood samples.

Some of the money will go towards paying off-duty Virginia Beach police officers to transport researchers to crash sites.  The information that researchers gather at the scene of a traffic crash will not be provided to the police, and will remain confidential.

Virginia Beach was selected for the site of the study because of the number of car accidents that happen every year (there were 9,021 motor vehicle accidents last year).  In addition the Virginia Beach police department is active in attempting to prevent drunk driving; 7 percent of Virginia Beach car crashes involve drugs or alcohol.

Results from the study are expected to be released mid-2011 and may be used to shape public policy for the entire nation.