A review of the scientific literature regarding the effects of alcohol on driving-related skills was conducted. One hundred and twelve articles -from 1981 to 1997 -were reviewed. Results were indexed by BAC and behavioral area and entered into a database. Two separate analyses were conducted. The first analysis determined the lowest BAC at which impairment is reliably present in driving-related skills. The second analysis determined the thresholds of impairment for each of twelve separate behavioral areas. It was concluded that: O Alcohol impairs some driving skills beginning with any significant departure from zero BAC. By BACs of 0.05 g/dl, the majority of the experimental studies examined reported significant impairment. By 0.08 g/dl, more than 94% of the reviewed studies showed impairment in the skills they measured.O Specific performance skills are differentially affected by alcohol. Some skills are significantly impaired by BACs of .01 g/dl, while others do not show impairment until BACs of 0.06 g/dl.O Discrepancies among the reported BAC thresholds of impairment within a behavioral area reflected a lack of standardization of testing methods, instruments, and measures in the studies reviewed.O All drivers can be expected to experience impairment in some driving-related skills by 0.08 g/dl or less 17.

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The incidence and severity of simulator sickness results for an older driver assessment study is reported. The data from a total of 118 participants comprised of 67 older drivers (aged 70-90; 37 male, 30 female) and 51 younger drivers (age 21-50; 22 male, 29 female) was used for this study. The primary objective of this project was to develop a PC-based program in conjunction with a low-cost driving simulator that can be used for screening and potentially retraining the psychomotor, attentional, and cognitive skills of older drivers. A large range of sensory, perceptual, psychomotor, and cognitive tests were provided to validate the driving simulator and/or provide a comprehensive older driver assessment test battery. Simulator sickness ratings after 5 driving simulator sessions were obtained using the Kennedy, Lane, Berbaum, and Lilienthal (1993) Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Dropout and scenario completion rates suggest a higher symptom incidence for older drivers, particularly older female drivers. Scenario design effects are also discussed as it relates to dropout rates. SSQ analysis using nausea, oculomotor, and disorientation subscales across driving simulator sessions were performed for dropout participants and non-dropout participants. Contrary to dropout rates, no age effects were found in the SSQ data. No gender differences were found within the dropout group, but found in the non-dropout group for nausea and oculomotor scores. No relationship was found between contrast sensitivity and simulator sickness.

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