CIECA is pleased to announce an upcoming workshop dedicated to the complex relationship between health, substance use, prescribed medications and fitness to drive.
The literature on prescription medications and driving has been predominantly focused on perceived hazards of certain classes of medications. Not only is this challenging to disentangle from the impact of the underlying medical conditions prompting the prescriptions, but the discourse may also be challenging in terms of how fitness to drive is described by regulatory agencies for medicines. This presentation will cover the landscape of fitness to drive related to prescription medicines and in particular directs participants towards emerging literature on improved driving safety related to compliance with prescribed medications.
This is followed by a contribution providing a brief overview of evidence-based correlations between cannabis use, accident risks, driving safety and effects relevant to driving ability. It outlines the current situation regarding the effects of cannabis legalization in an international context and specifically in Germany, reporting indicators relating to road safety and the healthcare system, presenting penalties for cannabis-related offenses on German roads, and proposing measures to reduce potential risks in road traffic.
The workshop also addresses driving under the influence of alcohol, which continues to cause traffic accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries. Alcohol interlocks are very effective at preventing driving under the influence of alcohol, but only as long as the devices are installed, as removal of the device can lead to a relapse into old behaviour patterns. With an alcohol interlock programme, i.e. with simultaneous psychological intervention, technology can be used to achieve a lasting change in attitude and behaviour that continues to have an effect even after the device has been removed.
Finally, the programme includes a presentation on traffic accident involvement among drivers with neurological conditions and the reporting of medically unfit drivers. Based on Swedish national register data, it examines licence revocations for medical reasons and crash involvement among drivers with stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, highlighting differences in accident types and injury severity, as well as the challenges clinicians face when assessing medical fitness to drive and the importance of careful, individual evaluation for road safety.
The CIECA Fit to Drive Permanent Advisory Group is delighted to host its 3rd workshop and warmly invites all CIECA Members to participate.
The event will take place in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online attendance. While hybrid access will be available, we strongly encourage participants to join us on site, as in-person participation will significantly enrich the workshop discussions and collaborative exchanges.
The workshop will be generously hosted by RSA / Trinity College Dublin at their premises in Dublin (Ireland), with the Trinity Business School kindly providing the meeting room for the event.
Below you will find all practical information regarding the workshop. For any further questions, please contact info@cieca.eu.
- Agenda: will be uploaded soon. The workshop will run from 10:00 to 16:00, allowing same-day travel for participants.
- Fee: This members' only event is free-of-charge
- Location: Dublin & online (via Teams)
- Accommodation: more information re. venue & accommodation
- Deadline: Friday, 13 February 2026
- Working language: English