Alcohol Effects on Drivers' Speed Management: The Influence of Visual Performance and Road Complexity
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemAutor
Casares López, Miriam; Castro Torres, José Juan; Ortiz Peregrina, Sonia; Martino, Francesco; Granados Delgado, Pilar; Jiménez del Barco Jaldo, Luis MiguelEditorial
Alcohol Res Documentation Inc - Cent Alcohol Stud Rutgers Univ
Materia
alcohol use driving speed driver self-regulation contrast sensitivity vision road complexity visual performance
Fecha
2024-11-20Referencia bibliográfica
Casares-López M, Castro-Torres JJ, Ortiz-Peregrina S, Martino F, Granados-Delgado P, Jiménez Del Barco L. Alcohol Effects on Drivers' Speed Management: The Influence of Visual Performance and Road Complexity. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 85(6): 804-814 (2024)
Patrocinador
Proyecto PID2020-115184RB-I00 financiado por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; Proyecto A-FQM-532-UGR20 financiado por FEDER/Junta de AndalucíaResumen
Objective: The aim of this work is to assess how drivers adapt their driving speed as a self-regulation mechanism when driving under the influence of alcohol, and the influence of alcohol consumption, visual performance, road complexity, and personal traits.
Method: Thirty-one volunteers took part in the study. All of them underwent three experimental sessions: baseline (no alcohol), Alcohol 1 (low–moderate dose), and Alcohol 2 (moderate–high dose). Vision was tested using contrast sensitivity and retinal straylight. Driving performance was assessed using a driving simulator. The difference between the driving speed and the speed limit was calculated in 10 road scenarios of different complexity.
Results: Drivers adapted their driving speed less (i.e., drove faster) in the Alcohol 1 condition compared with Alcohol 2 (p = .007). This indicates that participants felt more confident under the influence of a low–moderate dose of alcohol. Participants with better contrast sensitivity drove faster (p = .021). The complexity of the road and other factors such as driving experience, sex, or driving under the influence of alcohol frequency also influenced speed choice.
Conclusions: Drivers under the influence of a low–moderate dose of alcohol seem to be less aware of the risk. Contrast sensitivity is a good predictor of the speed choice when driving under the influence of alcohol. A better understanding of drivers' behavior under the influence of substance use may be useful to adjust and improve traffic laws and driving regulations.