Citation

Verster JC, Wester AE, Goorden M, van Wieringen JP, Olivier B, Volkerts ER. Psychopharmacology 2009; 204(1): 127-133.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

This article reports on a randomized, single-blind crossover study that used a divided-attention steering simulator (DASS) to examine the changes in novice drivers' (n = 32) performances after imbibing different alcohol dosages (or placebo). The DASS is designed to measure lane-keeping (i.e., a tracking task using a steering wheel) while performing a secondary visual task (responding to digits that appear in the corners of the computer screen). Subjects received alcohol to gain a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.08%, and 0.10% or alcohol-placebo. Sixteen of the subjects performed a 30-min test in DASS (dual-task condition). Outcome measures were steering error, reaction time, and percentage of errors. The other 16 subjects performed the test without performing the secondary peripheral task (single-task condition). Analyses were performed on 28 subjects, all of whom had had their driver's license fewer than 5 years. Dose-dependent impairment was found in both the single-task condition and the dual-task condition. With the exception of the BAC 0.02%, performance at all BAC levels differed significantly from alcohol-placebo. As the BAC levels increased, subjects made more errors and reacted more slowly on the peripheral tasks.


Keywords: Driver distraction;

Language: en