POSSIBLE EFFECT OF PEMOLIN ON THE APTITUDE OF HEALTHY DRIVERS

The possible impairment of the driving aptitude of healthy drivers by pemolin was tested for both the acute condition (two day medication) and the semi-chronic condition (after 14 days of medication). The 40 male and female test subjects, aged between 19 and 31, had been active car drivers for at least three years had not been involved in accidents, and had driven 22500 km per year on average. The following parameters were measured: driver behaviour in the real driving situation, by means of a standard driver behaviour test; sensor motor reaction speed and sureness of reaction, by means of the Viennese equipment; concertrated visual attention, by means of the attention loading test D2; the individual stress strategies brought into play under stress; actual sense of wellbeing before and after each control period; circulation before and after continuous stress. With respect to all the parameters there was no significant difference between the pemolin and the placebo group, either after 2-day or after 14-day medication. This showed that pemolin, providing the correct dosages are adhered to, does not impair the driving aptitude of healthy drivers. (TRRL)