THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA AND ALCOHOL ON ACTUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE

Approximately 80 volunteer male marijuana and alcohol users received one of four experimental treatments: (1) marijuana, (2) alcohol, (3) marijuana and alcohol, or (4) double placebo. After consumption, each subject drove a vehicle over a test course which simulated a number of real-world driving conditions. Four post-drug runs were involved, separated by one-hour intervals. The subject's performance was rated by an in-car examiner, outside observers, and computerized vehicle measurements. Blood and urine specimens were extracted after each run to establish levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), serum carboxy, and alcohol. A variety of multivariate statistical techniques were applied in evaluating treatment effects. Both marijuana and alcohol had significant effects on driving performance, and the effects were particularly deterimental under the both-drugs treatment. The effects of marijuana were more rapid than those of alcohol and somewhat less severe for most tasks.

• Corporate Authors:

  Brain Information Service

  California University, Center for Health Science
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90024
• Authors:
  • Peck, R C
  • Biasotti, A
  • Boland, P N
  • Mallory, C
  • Reeve, V
• Publication Date: 1986-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 135-154
• Serial:
  • ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND DRIVING
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: 3-4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Blood alcohol levels; Blood analysis; Driver performance; Drivers; Drugs; Experiments; Marijuana; Personnel performance; Urine
• Old TRIS Terms: Blood tests
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00610039
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 087902
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1991 12:00AM