Distraction produces over-additive increases in the degree to which alcohol impairs driving performance

Psychopharmacology
Nicholas Van Dyke, Mark T Fillmore

Abstract

Research indicates that alcohol intoxication and increased demands on drivers' attention from distractions (e.g., passengers and cell phones) contribute to poor driving performance and increased rates of traffic accidents and fatalities. The present study examined the separate and combined effects of alcohol and distraction on simulated driving performance at blood alcohol concentrations (BrACs) below the legal driving limit in the USA (i.e., 0.08 %). Fifty healthy adult drivers (36 men and 14 women) were tested in a driving simulator following a 0.65-g/kg dose of alcohol and a placebo. Drivers completed two drive tests: a distracted drive, which included a two-choice detection task, and an undistracted control drive. Multiple indicators of driving performance, such as drive speed, within-lane deviation, steering rate, and lane exceedances were measured. Alcohol and distraction each impaired measures of driving performance. Moreover, the magnitude of alcohol impairment was increased by at least twofold when tested under the distracting versus the undistracted condition. The findings highlight the need for a clearer understanding of how common distractions impact intoxicated drivers, especially at BrACs that are currently legal ...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1985·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·H MoskowitzA F Williams
Dec 10, 1997·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·L E MulvihillM Vogel-Sprott
Mar 9, 2004·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Christopher J D PattenLena Nilsson
Jul 28, 2004·Traffic Injury Prevention·E J D Ogden, H Moskowitz
Jan 26, 2005·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·David ShinarRichard Compton
May 24, 2005·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Emily L R Harrison, Mark T Fillmore
Aug 4, 2006·Human Factors·Dario D Salvucci
Jan 9, 2008·Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology·Emily L R HarrisonMark T Fillmore
Mar 8, 2008·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Mark T FillmoreEmily L R Harrison
Jun 11, 2008·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Cecile A MarczinskiMark T Fillmore
Sep 2, 2008·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Michael E RakauskasChristopher J Patrick
Feb 1, 2011·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Emily L R Harrison, Mark T Fillmore

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 8, 2018·Human Factors·Zhenlong LiQingzhou Zhang
Oct 16, 2016·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·Ben LewisSara Jo Nixon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Addiction

This feed focuses mechanisms underlying addiction and addictive behaviour including heroin and opium dependence, alcohol intoxication, gambling, and tobacco addiction.