ALCOHOL EFFECTS ON DRIVING BEHAVIOR AND PERFORMANCE IN A CAR SIMULATOR

A fixed-base simulation has been developed to test the effect of alcohol on driving performance. Measurements of both driver control behavior and driver-vehicle performance were obtained for the steering task, and detection and recognition indexes and reaction time were measured on the discrete task. Data are given for eighteen drivers, ranging in age from 21-65, at blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0, 0.06, and 0.11. Alcohol causes larger lane and heading deviations, and increases detection and reaction times on the discrete task. Control-behavior measures show that the driver's control gain decreases, but stability margins are maintained under alcohol, while driver remnant increases. Such effects could be due to indifference thresholds and/or intermittent attention in the control task. The driving simulation has proven an efficient tool for alcohol research. /DCPL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

  3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5997
• Authors:
  • Allen, R W
• Publication Date: 1975-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 498-505
• Serial:
  • IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics
  • Volume: SMC5
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blood alcohol levels; Driver performance; Drivers; Driving simulators; Drunk driving; Personnel performance; Reaction time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00126304
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 3 1977 12:00AM