AUTOMOBILE REAR SIGNAL RESEARCH II: EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL SEPARATION AND LOW LEVELS OF BLOOD ALCOHOL ON LABORATORY PERFORMANCE

The experiment investigated the effects of functional separation of brake and turn-signals, and of low levels of alcohol intoxication on a driver's ability to detect and interpret rear-signal information presented on a model automobile in a laboratory setting. Twelve experienced drivers performed the laboratory task for one-hour sessions on five successive days. Three independent variables were examined in a randomized block factorial design. These consisted of two levels of model type, one with brake and turn-signals combined under the same lens, the other with brake and turn-signals under separate lenses, four levels of blood alcohol, 0.00, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.08%, and six levels of stimulus complexity, representing six types of rear-signal information. Response variables consisted of response errors and the latencies between the onset of the stimulus and both the onset of the response and the completion of the response. Results indicated that performance on the combined model was significantly worse when the rear-signal information was complex than when it consisted of only simple brake or turn-signal information. Performance also deteriorated with blood alcohol levels as low as 0.05% on the combined model and 0.08% on the model that separated brake and turn-signal lights. Results are discussed in terms of the stimulus-identification/response-choice components of the task, and in terms of the optimum method for separating rear-signal lights by function. Recommendations are given for an optimal dosing schedule for low levels of alcohol intoxication. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Department of National Defence

  ,   Canada 

  Defence & Civil Institute of Environ Med, Canada

  1133 Sheppard Avenue West, P.O. Box 2000
  Downsview, ONo M3M 3B9,   Canada 
• Authors:
  • ATTWOOD, D A
  • Battiston, M M
  • Madill, H D
• Publication Date: 1977-5

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 49 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blood alcohol levels; Brakes; Driver performance; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Guardrails; Laboratory studies; Perception; Personnel performance; Posts; Rear lighting; Simulation; Vertical supports
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception; Rear signals; Response
• ITRD Terms: 1553: Blood alcohol content; 1351: Brake light; 2209: Comprehension; 1855: Driving (veh); 2231: Drunkenness; 2229: Perception; 2247: Reaction (human); 1331: Side light; 9103: Simulation; 1320: Trafficator
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165552
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Report/Paper Numbers: RSU Tech. Rpt. 7712
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 1978 12:00AM