Is the driving behaviour of young novices and young experienced drivers under alcohol linked to their perceived effort and alertness?

Abstract

The aim is to evaluate effort and alertness perception and objective driving performance of young drivers depending on Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and driving experience. Young novice and young experienced drivers participated in three simulated driving sessions (BACs of 0.0, 0.2 and 0.5 g/L). They had to drive during 45 min. on a simulated highway road. After each driving session, they responded to the Thayer scale and to an adaptation of the NASA-TLX. Results showed that young experienced drivers estimated to make less effort and had better driving performance than young novice drivers. Estimated alertness level was the lowest and speed variation was the highest with BAC 0.5 g/l. It also existed an interaction effect between perceived effort and alcohol and between alertness and alcohol on driving performance. In summary, alcohol degrades driving performance, and especially when the effort is high, alertness is low and drivers lack experience.