Comparison of driving performance during the blood alcohol concentration ascending period and descending period under alcohol influence in a driving simulator

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the performance of young novice male drivers in a driving simulator after they were administered different doses of alcohol (placebo: 0 g/kg; medium dose: 0.75 g/kg; high dose: 1 g/kg) during the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ascending and descending periods. The high dose of alcohol produced an average peak BAC of 74±5.477 mg/100 ml at 30 min after administration, and the medium dose produced an average peak BAC of 47.714±17.68 mg/100 ml at 10 min after administration. Compared with the placebo, the drivers' performance under the high dose of alcohol was characterised by more abrupt steering manoeuvres, a greater average speed, and a greater offset from the lane centre. The drivers were more timid under the medium dose administration. The study on driver behaviour plays an important role on constructing the early warning model, so as to put forward the corresponding intervention measures of unsafe driving behaviour and improve vehicle safety in reducing accidents due to drinking and/or drunk driving on public roads.