Driving Under the Influence of Psychoactive Prescription Benzodiazepines and Alcohol

How seriously should we heed the advice against mixing prescription medicine with alcohol, especially when driving? This thesis addresses that question by investigating the effects of concurrent use of prescription benzodiazepines and low-dose, or legally permissible, alcohol consumption on driving performance. Through a comprehensive approach that encompasses epidemiological data, a systematic literature review, and experimental research, this work provides insights into the prevalence of this behaviour among high-risk populations and quantifies the impairment caused by co-consumption. Additionally, it introduced ocular metrics, including gaze behaviour and blink characteristics, as novel real-time indicators of drug-induced driving impairment to improve road safety.