EFFECTS OF SMALL DOSES OF ALCOHOL ON DRIVER PERFORMANCE IN EMERGENCY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS

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 road-way. The results indicate the detrimental effects of alcohol at a total BAC-average of 42 mg%. In the braking and maneuvring task, drivers under the infleunce of alcohol hit significantly more pylons and took significantly longer distances to stop. There were 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.

• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

  Linköping,   Sweden  SE-581 95
• Authors:
  • Laurell, H
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Blood alcohol levels; Braking; Driver performance; Drivers; Drunk driving; Emergencies; Maneuverability; Personnel performance; Stopping distances
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00150441
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Report No. 68A, HS-018 468
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 27 1983 12:00AM