Citation

Laurell H. Accid. Anal. Prev. 1977; 9(3): 191-201.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The effects on driver performance of blood alcohol concentrations below 50 mg% were studied in two contexts: (1) in a critical car driving situation involving emergency braking and evasive maneuvers and (2) in a "surprise" situation that followed the first one and featured the sudden appearance of a man-shaped obstacle blocking the roadway. The results indicate the detrimental effects of alcohol at a total BAC-average of 42 mg%. In the braking and maneuvering task, drivers under the influence of alcohol hit significantly more pylons and took significantly longer distances to stop. There was also a strong tendency for alcohol to impair performance in the surprise situation. Under the influence of alcohol five drivers out of ten collided with the obstacle; this was the case for only one driver out of ten in the control (non-alcohol) condition.