Citation

Freydier C, Berthelon C, Bastien-Toniazzo M, Gineyt G. J. Saf. Res. 2014; 49: 13.e1-118.

Affiliation

Department of Medical Information, Hospital Center, 207 Avenue Julien Fabre, 13300 Salon de Provence, France. Electronic address: ggineyt@ch-salon.fr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2014.02.003

PMID

24913478

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present research evaluates driving impairment linked to divided attention task and alcohol and determines whether it is higher for novice drivers than for experienced drivers.

METHOD: Novice and experienced drivers participated in three experimental sessions in which blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were 0.0g/L, 0.2g/L, and 0.5g/L. They performed a divided attention task with a main task of car-following task and an additional task of number parity identification. Driving performance, response time and accuracy on the additional task were measured.

RESULTS: ANOVA showed a driving impairment and a decrease in additional task performance from a BAC of 0.5g/L, particularly for novice drivers. Indeed, the latter adopt more risky behavior such as tailgating (close following). In the divided attention task, driving impairment was found for all drivers and impairment on information processing accuracy was highlighted, notably in peripheral vision. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The divided attention task used here provides a relevant method for identifying the effects of alcohol on cognitive functions and could be used in psychopharmacological research.


Keywords: Driver distraction;

Language: en