This paper considers the influence of alcohol on social interaction in vehicles, which in turn affects traffic safety. In an investigation of police accident reports from Mittelfranken, Germany, from 1984 to 1990, it was found that driving was safer in the presence of one passenger than when drivers were alone. This protective effect was somewhat reduced for more than one passenger, and it was also reduced for younger drivers. Two approaches could explain these results: (1) the multitask approach, concerned with divided attention; (2) the social approach, emphasising primary social approaches like social facilitation and sensitisation, leading to changes in is to direct the attention to social events, and this interacts with the second effect sedation, that inhibits information processing. The Logoport is a portable device, that can unobtrusively report the temporal structure of free conversation, so that it can elegantly collect data on natural social interactions. A study where it was used is outlined. A chart shows the proportions of cars with one, two, or more than two passengers, for drivers in three age groups, in a study of accidents involving alcohol.
Abstract