Alchhol Influences on Curve Negotiation and Stopping Behavior

Abstract

Twelve male subjects drove an instrumented car at a constant speed through constant radius, decreasing radius, and increasing radius curves and braked the car to a controlled stop after an audible signal given at three different stopping distances. A within-subject repeated measures design was used with a dosing schedule of .00, .05, and .10 BAC. Measures of longitudinal and lateral g forces, and steering wheel and brake use were obtained. Performance differences were found for curve type, stopping distance, and alcohol level, but there was little interaction among the independent variables.