This study is part of a research project aimed at developing a pedagogical programme using driving simulation techniques for dissuading alcohol-impaired driving in youth. The authors have conceptualised a new driving simulator. Specifically, as a first and necessary step, the study was conducted to assess sober subjects' ability to discriminate between drunk driving and sober driving in a simulator. Video recordings of simulated driving were prepared with two young drivers, male and female, under 0.00%, 0.08% and 0.12% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). These recordings were presented to 100 subjects that were asked to rate the sequences according to difficulty in controlling the vehicle's path, in avoiding obstacles, and in reacting quickly and effectively to various road situations. The results show that the perception of risk varies for different BACs. The subjects, male and female, were able to discriminate between the driving sequences of a sober driver and the BAC levels of 0.08% or 0.12%. This result indicates that, in the future, when using the authors' new simulator, subjects will probably be sensitive to the changes in driving conditions from sober simulated driving to drunk simulated driving. (A)
Samenvatting