The Taipei City Hospital group is pioneering a medication grading system for traffic safety. The Taipei Pharmacists Association (TPA) officially announced the classification project at a press conference on Monday.
With the Taiwan government’s vigorous efforts to clamp down on drunk driving, public awareness of the dangers of intoxication while operating a vehicle has greatly increased. However, the effect of drugs on traffic safety is not as commonly understood.
Medications will be classified into four levels, from 0 to 3, with level-0 representing no risk, through to level-3 which represents the most dangerous substances including sleeping aids, muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety medication, mydriatic eye drops, etc.
Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations (FTPA) Chairman Huang Jin-shun (黃金舜) points out that 6 million people in the country take drugs for chronic diseases. He says that "drug driving" causes more than 300 deaths in traffic accidents every year and suggests that penalties similar to drunk driving be set.
The Taipei City Hospital group has already begun publicity campaigns in the Taipei City Public Transportation Office and taxi service stations. It will next cooperate with the TPA and FPTA to provide health education through community pharmacists.