Standard operation procedures for conducting the on-the-road driving test, and measurement of the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP)

• Main Authors: Verster JC, Roth T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2011-05-01
• Series: International Journal of General Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/standard-operation-procedures-for-conducting-the-on-the-road-driving-t-a7478

Joris C Verster¹, Thomas Roth²¹Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; ²Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USAAbstract: This review discusses the methodology of the standardized on-the-road driving test and standard operation procedures to conduct the test and analyze the data. The on-the-road driving test has proven to be a sensitive and reliable method to examine driving ability after administration of central nervous system (CNS) drugs. The test is performed on a public highway in normal traffic. Subjects are instructed to drive with a steady lateral position and constant speed. Its primary parameter, the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), ie, an index of 'weaving', is a stable measure of driving performance with high test–retest reliability. SDLP differences from placebo are dose-dependent, and do not depend on the subject's baseline driving skills (placebo SDLP). It is important that standard operation procedures are applied to conduct the test and analyze the data in order to allow comparisons between studies from different sites.Keywords: driving test, SDLP, methodology, on-the-road, highway