For the first time in over 40 years, the UK has the pleasure of hosting the International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (ICADTS 2004) to be held at the Scottish Exhibition Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow from 8 to 13 August 2004.

"It is a privilege to be trusted with the responsibility of organising the event in the hope that it will enable our policy makers to focus on transport safety issues relating to alcohol and drugs. They will have the opportunity to meet and learn from internationally recognised experts in the field," said Dr John Oliver, Chair of the T2004 Organising Committee and Head of Forensic Medicine and Science at the University of Glasgow.

The conference will explore developments in new policies and technologies to counteract alcohol and drugs problems in the context of road traffic safety. Academics, professionals and representatives from around the globe in all fields concerned will benefit from this opportunity to exchange information and to keep up to date with new developments.

"This is the first time that the UK has hosted the conference since 1962," explains Dr Oliver. "It reflects well on safety proceedings within the country at this time and it is significant that the City of Glasgow should host this event in light of road safety measures pioneered by Strathclyde Police and currently in use by the majority of the Police Forces in the United Kingdom."

"Our target audience is international and the majority of our delegates come from America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. This is a real bonus for the City of Glasgow, bringing in 400-500 delegates and their families. The conference will be built around a number of papers, each of which will focus on a major aspect of knowledge, practice and theory relating to alcohol, drugs and traffic safety."

The conference will be built around a number of papers, each of which will focus on a major aspect of knowledge, practice and theory relating to alcohol, drugs and traffic safety.

"The ICADTS 2004 will be a series of four, one day workshops ﾖ each focussing on the practical issues form the aspects of the police enforcement, legal issues, work related transport issues and licit and illicit drugs and driving," explains Dr Han de Grier, President of ICASDTS.

"While alcohol is still the number one substance causing traffic deaths and injuries, drugs other than alcohol are attracting increasing attention in regard to both traffic safety and public health and will be a conference feature."

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

More information on the conference can be found at: ICADTS 2004 website.

For further information or to register please contact Claire Cresswell at ICADTS T2004 on 0141 434-1500, or email: icadts2004@meetingmakers.co.uk.

Alternatively you can contact Mike Findlay the University of Glasgow Press Officer on 0141 330-3535 or email: m.findlay@admin.gla.ac.uk.

For more than 50 years The International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety has been active as an independent non-profit body, bringing together academics, professionals and representatives in all fields concerned with alcohol, drugs and traffic safety, from around the world. Together they use current knowledge to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by misuse of alcohol and drugs by operators of all modes of transport.

First published: 8 July 2004