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A Review of Alcohol‐Impaired Driving: The Role of Blood Alcohol Concentration and Complexity of the Driving Task
Author(s) -
Martin Teri L.,
Solbeck Patricia A. M.,
Mayers Daryl J.,
Langille Robert M.,
Buczek Yvona,
Pelletier Marc R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12227
Subject(s) - task (project management) , blood alcohol , alcohol consumption , drunk driving , human factors and ergonomics , alcohol , alcohol intake , injury prevention , driving under the influence , poison control , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , applied psychology , environmental health , engineering , biology , biochemistry , systems engineering
The operation of a motor vehicle requires the integrity of sensory, motor, and intellectual faculties. Impairment of these faculties following the consumption of alcohol has been studied extensively through laboratory, closed‐course and on‐road driving, and epidemiological studies. The scientific literature was reviewed critically, with a focus on low‐to‐moderate blood alcohol concentrations ( BAC ≤ 0.100%), to identify the most reliable determinants of alcohol‐impaired driving. Variables such as age, gender, driving skill, and tolerance were shown to have limited impact on impairment. It was concluded the most relevant variables are BAC and complexity of the driving task. The scientific literature provides a high degree of confidence to support the conclusion that a BAC of 0.050% impairs faculties required in the operation of a motor vehicle. Whether impairment is apparent depends upon the complexity of the driving task, which applies to both study design and actual driving.
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