A Review of Alcohol‐Impaired Driving: The Role of Blood Alcohol Concentration and Complexity of the Driving Task

Abstract

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.

Impairment due to alcohol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and benzodiazepines in impaired drivers compared to experimental studies

“…For many years, such experimental studies regarding the psychomotor and cognitive effects of drugs have been performed. For ethanol, a vast literature exists on the subject, and a correlation between blood alcohol concentration and the degree of impairment is well established (Martin et al 2013). For drugs like for instance benzodiazepines and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the evidence for a dose-response relationship between blood concentrations of drugs and degree of impairment has also been documented (Berghaus and Grass 1997;Berghaus et al 1998;Linnoila et al 1990;Mattila et al 1998;Ramaekers et al 2000).…”

Brief Interventions for Hazardous and Harmful Alcohol Consumption in Accident and Emergency Departments

“…The prevalence of alcohol abuse among patients treated (or least diagnosed) in this setting is considered to be substantial. Not surprisingly, alcohol is regarded as one of the leading causes of car accidents (1) as well as injuries in general (2). According to different studies, up to 77% (2, 3) of subjects admitted in A&E presented an alcohol-related injury, with about 30% of patients drinking alcohol above recommended levels (4), and between 6 and 22% (2, 3) meeting the criteria of alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV (5).…”

Personalidad, edad de inicio y problemas por consumo de alcohol en estudiantes

“…El alcohol tiene efectos significativos sobre una variedad de procesos neuropsicológicos y motores, muchos de ellos esenciales para la conducción segura de vehículos (Groeger, 2001;Martin et al, 2013). Efectivamente, entre un 20-50% de las muertes por accidentes de tránsito en las Américas se encuentran relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol (OMS, 2004).…”