Real-time in-car detection of cannabis-impaired driving
Randomised, Controlled, Interventional Single-center Study for the Design and Evaluation of an In-vehicle Real-time System for Detecting Cannabis-impaired Driving (CID)
This project will test whether in-car sensors and physiological data can detect cannabis-impaired driving in healthy adult recreational cannabis users.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Bern Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bern) |
| Trial ID | NCT07401628 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants complete screening and a baseline sober drive on a closed test track in an instrumented vehicle. Those randomized to the experimental arm receive controlled cannabis administration and repeat driving between about 1 to 6 hours after dosing while vehicle, driver, and physiological sensors record data. A randomized reference group completes the same drives without cannabis exposure. Investigators will apply machine learning to the sensor and driving-behavior data to try to distinguish sober from cannabis-affected driving.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 21 or older who drive regularly, hold a Swiss or EU driving license, use recreational cannabis more than once per month, and are fluent in (Swiss) German.
Not a fit: People with medical contraindications to cannabis (including certain psychiatric or cardiovascular conditions), pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with problematic alcohol or cannabis use, non-regular drivers, or those unable to attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable real-time detection of cannabis-impaired driving and improve road safety by identifying impaired drivers earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work has used sensors and machine learning to detect impairment, but real-time in-vehicle detection of cannabis-specific impairment is relatively novel and has produced mixed results to date.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Informed consent as documented by signature * Recreational cannabis-consumption (more than once per month) * In possession of a definite Swiss or European Union (EU) driving license * At least 21 years old * Active, regular driving a car in the last 6 months * Must be in good health condition * No special equipment needed when driving (special seats, levers, etc.) * Fluent in (Swiss) German and no speech impairment Exclusion Criteria: * Health concerns where cannabis consumption is contra-indicated (such as: high blood pressure, psychiatric problems (e.g. psychosis, depression, attention-deficit conditions, etc.) * Cannabis-abstinence or excessive consumption, , assessed using the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) * For women: pregnancy or breastfeeding or if intention to become pregnant during study period (time between telephone screening and study day (visit 2) * Alcohol misuse or excessive alcohol consumption habits/risky drinking behaviour, assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and/or phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in capillary blood \> 200 ng/mL at first visit * If breath alcohol test is positive at Visit 1 or Visit 2 (study day) * Consumption of drugs of abuse (others than cannabis) within 4 weeks before the study * Consumption of medications / pharmaceutical drugs which interfere with driving ability * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g., due to language
Where this trial is running
Bern
- Institute for Forensic Medicine, Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology University of Bern — Bern, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Wolfgang Weinmann, Prof. Dr. — Institute for Forensic Medicine, Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology University of Bern
- Study coordinator: Wolfgang Weinmann, Prof. Dr.
- Email: wolfgang.weinmann@irm.unibe.ch
- Phone: +41 31 684 01 61
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.