title: Reaction times of young alcohol-impaired drivers.
abstract: Young individuals who drive under the influence of alcohol have a higher relative risk of crash involvement; as such, the literature has extensively investigated the factors affecting such involvement through both post-accident surveys and simulator experiments. The effects of differentiated breath alcohol concentrations (BrAC) on young driver behavior, however, have been largely unaddressed, mainly as a result of the difficulty in collecting the necessary data. We explore young driver behavior under the influence of alcohol using a driving simulator experiment where 49 participants were subjected to a common pre-defined dose of alcohol consumption. Comparing reaction times before and after consumption allows for interesting insights and suggestions regarding policy interventions. As expected, the results indicate that increased reaction times before consuming alcohol strongly affect post-consumption reaction times, while increased BrAC levels prolong reaction times; a 10% increase in BrAC levels results in a 2% increase in reaction time. Interestingly, individuals with faster alcohol absorption times perform better regardless of absolute BrAC level, while recent meals lead to higher reaction times and regular exercising to lower.
authors: Department of Transportation Planning and Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 5, Iroon Polytechniou, 15773 Zografou Campus, Greece; Department 'City, Environment, Transportation', Ecole des ponts et chaussées, 6&8 avenue Blaise Pascal - Cité Descartes, Champs-sur-Marne, F-77455, Marne-la-Vallée cedex 2, France. Electronic address: zoic@civil.ntua.gr.
authors: Zoi
authors: Z
authors: Christoforou
authors: Matthew G
authors: MG
authors: Karlaftis
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Yannis
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001944:Breath Tests; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol; Impaired driving; Random-parameter regression; Reaction times; Simulator