TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Effect of ethylic alcohol on attentive functions involved in driving abilities
JO  - Archives Italiennes de Biologie
A1  - Bivona, Umberto
A1  - Garbarino, Sergio
A1  - Rigon, Jessica
A1  - Buzzi, Maria Gabriella
A1  - Onder, Graziano
A1  - Matteis, Maria
A1  - Catani, Sheila
A1  - Giustini, Marco
A1  - Mancardi, Giovanni Luigi
A1  - Formisano, Rita
SP  - 172
EP  - 180
VL  - 153
IS  - 2-3
N2  - The burden of injuries due to drunk drivers has been estimated only indirectly. Indeed, alcohol is considered one of the most important contributing cause of car crash injuries and its effect on cognitive functions needs to be better elucidated. Aims of the study were i) to examine the effect of alcohol on attentive abilities involved while driving, and ii) to investigate whether Italian law limits for safe driving are sufficiently accurate to prevent risky behaviours and car crash risk while driving. We conducted a cross-over study at IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia Rehabilitation Hospital in Rome. Thirty-two healthy subjects were enrolled in this experiment. Participants were submitted to an attentive test battery assessing attention before taking Ethylic Alcohol (EA-) and after taking EA (EA+). In the EA+ condition subjects drank enough wine until the blood alcohol concentration, measured by means of Breath Analyzer, was equal to or higher than 0.5 g/l. Data analysis revealed that after alcohol assumption, tonic and phasic alertness, selective, divided attention and vigilance were significantly impaired when BAC level was at least 0.5 g/l. These data reveal that alcohol has a negative effect on attentive functions which are primarily involved in driving skills and that Italian law limits are adequate to prevent risky driving behaviour.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-9829
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -