Drinking and driving behavior at stop signs and red lights

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention Vol. 104; pp. 10 - 17
• Main Authors: Wan, Jingyan, Wu, Changxu, Zhang, Yiqi, Houston, Rebecca J., Chen, Chang Wen, Chanawangsa, Panya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2017
• Subjects: Acceleration - adverse effects; Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adult; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Automobile Driving - statistics & numerical data; Computer Simulation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drink and drive; Driver performance; Driving Under the Influence - statistics & numerical data; DWI; Female; Humans; Law Enforcement - methods; Male; Reaction Time - physiology; Red lights; Risk Factors; Stop signs; Young Adult; Alcohol; Drink and drive; Red lights; Driver performance; DWI; Stop signs
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.04.008

•Alcohol impaired driver speed and lateral control, prolonged reaction time when the green lights turned yellow, decreased deceleration towards stop signs and red lights.•Alcohol impaired the driver control of speed and direction and prolonged their simple and complex reaction time. Visual degradation may also occur under alcohol intake.•Alcohol impaired non-binge drinkers more severely. Acceleration were seen in impaired non-binge drinkers. Alcohol is one of the principal risk factors for motor vehicle crashes. One factor that contributes to vehicle crashes is noncompliance with stop signs and red lights. The present experiment investigated the effects of alcohol and drinking patterns on driving behavior at stop signs and red lights. 28 participants participated in drinking and simulated driving sessions during which they received a moderate dose of alcohol (0.08% BAC) or a placebo. Simulated driving tasks measured participants’ driving performance at stop signs and red lights in response to each dose. Results suggested that alcohol impaired the driver control of speed and direction and prolonged their simple and complex reaction time, which were exhibited by impaired speed and lateral control, longer reaction time when the lights turned yellow, and lower deceleration towards stop signs and red lights. Visual degradation may also occur under alcohol intake. It was also suggested that alcohol impaired non-binge drinkers more severely. To be specific, higher acceleration was observed in impaired non-binge drinkers.