Press Office
Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services
| NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS |
Print Media: 301-827-6250 |
| November 8, 2001 |
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA |
FDA AND NTSB TO
HOLD JOINT MEETING TO EXAMINE
EFFECTS OF MEDICATION ON VEHICLE
OPERATORS
On November 14 and 15, 2001, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB) will host a special meeting, Transportation Safety
and Potentially Sedating or Impairing Medication. This joint
FDA/NTSB meeting will examine the impact of prescription and
over-the-counter medications on peopleís ability to drive, fly,
sail, or operate other vehicles. The meeting is open to the
public and will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference
Center at 429 LíEnfant Plaza, Washington, D.C.
This transportation safety meeting is in response to
recommendations by NTSB to FDA requesting clear and consistent
warning labels on all medications that may impair a personís
ability to operate a vehicle.
Many prescription and over-the-counter medications are
known to cause drowsiness or impaired motor abilities in users,
and NTSB has investigated over 150 transportation accidents
where the use of medication by the operator of a vehicle may
have been a contributing factor. Yet little guidance or
medication labeling exists to help consumers determine which
medicines could adversely affect their ability to operate a
vehicle.
The meeting will also include experts from the Department
of Transportation, Centers for Disease Control, the National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy, American Association of Motor
Vehicle Administrators, the military, unions and the insurance
industry. Issues to be discussed include:
- Severity of the problem of transportation safety and impairing
medications
- Criteria to determine a personís level of impairment
- Current regulations and possible new regulations
- Possible warning labels for impairing medications.
More information on the November meeting,
including a draft agenda and a link
to the Federal Register announcement,
is available on NTSBís web site at
www.ntsb.gov/Events/2001/FDANTSB/agenda.htm.
The meeting starts at 8:00 am each
day, and a portion of time will be
allotted for audience participation.
If you wish to participate in a session,
please follow the instructions for
registration in the Federal Register
notice.
FDA
News Page | FDA
Home Page
Office of Public
Affairs
Web page created by clb
2001-NOV-08.