title: A simulation study of the effects of alcohol on driving performance in a Chinese population.
abstract: Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) is a significant factor contributing to road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Although the effects of alcohol on driving performance are widely acknowledged, studies of the effects of alcohol impairment on driving performance and particularly on the control system of Chinese adults are rare. This study attempts to evaluate the effects of alcohol on the driving performance of Chinese adults using a driving simulator.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of alcohol impairment on the driving performance of 52 Chinese participants using a driving simulator. A series of simulated driving tests covering two driving modules, including emergency braking (EB) and following braking (FB), at 50km/h and 80km/h were performed. Linear mixed models were established to evaluate driving performance in terms of braking reaction time (BRT), the standard deviation of lateral position (SD-LANE), and the standard deviation of speed (SD-SPEED).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Driving performance in terms of BRT and SD-LANE was highly correlated with the level of alcohol consumption, with a one-unit increase in breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) degrading BRT and SD-LANE by 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Frequent drinkers generally reacted faster in their BRT than less-frequent drinkers and non-drinkers by 10.2% and 30.6%, respectively. Moreover, alcohol impairment had varying effects on certain aspects of the human control system, and automatic action was less likely to be affected than voluntary action from a psychological viewpoint.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings should be useful for planning and developing effective measures to combat drink driving in Chinese communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Electronic address: hhecwsc@hku.hk.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tsing Chung Koon Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: So
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003657:Decision Making; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chinese population; Drink driving; Driving performance; Driving simulator; Traffic safety