Effects of alcohol on highway driving in the STISIM driving simulator

✍ Scribed by Monique A. J. Mets; Esther Kuipers; Lieke M. de Senerpont Domis; Maartje Leenders; Berend Olivier; Joris C. Verster

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 224 KB
• Volume: 26
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.1226

✦ Synopsis

Objective

The STISIM driving simulator is widely used. To enhance its usefulness in pharmacological research, a calibration study was performed to test a standardized highway driving test scenario after administration of three different dosages of alcohol and placebo.

Methods

Twenty‐seven healthy young adults (14 men and 13 women; mean age (SD) = 22.8 (1.4)) participated in this randomized, single‐blind crossover trial. Subjects received alcohol to gain a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%, 0.08%, and 0.11%, or placebo–alcohol. In each condition, subjects completed a 100‐km highway driving simulator test. The standard deviation of lateral position, the weaving of the car, was the primary parameter of the test.

Results

Alcohol produced dose‐dependent driving impairment. Standard deviation of lateral position and standard deviation of speed were significantly increased relative to placebo (p < 0.05). Subjective driving assessments were in line with the objective driving measurements.

Conclusion

The STISIM highway driving simulator test is able to differentiate dose‐dependent impairment after administration of alcohol. The highway driving test scenario is suitable for future psychopharmacological research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.