Laboratory and on-the-road tests were conducted to determine how much CO a motorist can breathe before it affects his ability to drive a car. The major findings were summarized as follows: the detected responses to 7 and 14 percent carbon monoxide blood levels included variations in eye movement patterns, and accelerator pedal use; the performance variations observed in the study did not create safety hazards during test runs at speeds of 30 and 50 mph; the effects of CO did not necessarily become more pronounced as blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels increased from 7 to 14 percent.
Abstract