The Effect of Smoking on Risk-Taking in a Simulated Passing Task

Abstract

Smokers are reported to be involved in traffic accidents more frequently than nonsmokers. One possible explanation for this is that smokers may take more risks (or may be less accurate at evaluating risk) than nonsmokers. To explore this possibility, nonsmokers, smokers-deprived, and smokers were required to perform a simulated car passing task-a task which, in actual driving situations, may be fraught with risk. However, no significant differences were detected as a function of the Smoking Condition. Therefore, it was concluded that nonsmokers, smokers-deprived, and smokers did not differ either in their willingness to take risks or in the accuracy with which they were able to evaluate risk. Differences were detected, though, as a function of trials, viz., with practice, the subjects became more accurate in evaluating risk.