Background and Aims. Alcohol–involvement continues to be a prominent factor in motorcycle crashes. International crash statistics reveal that involved motorcyclists are over represented at low Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BACs ≤0.05%). Previous experimental studies showed that selected cognitive and motor skills are negatively affected by alcohol. However, current understanding of effects of BAC on motorcycle operation is insufficient. The present pilot study used a riding simulator to investigate the effects of low alcohol dosages on driving ability of light drinkers. Materials and Methods. Double blind, cross-over design. 12 light drinkers (5 females/7 males) aged between 24-60 years, all with valid driving license since at least 3 years, were recruited. The study was carried out through the Honda Riding Trainer (HRT) simulator with BAC monitoring by the Drager Alcotest 6510. We administered moderate amounts of alcohol to participants during 2 sessions (with an interval of one week in between) of moped riding simulation. In both sessions participants had to face with some of the most frequent risky scenarios in on-road riding. Half participants underwent the alcohol condition in the first session and the placebo condition in the second one; while the other half faced the opposite sequence. Results. The dependent variable was an index calculated on the basis of the HRT scores, in which higher values indicated lower performance (in term of accidents and violations). Results of the mixed model ANOVA showed a significant interaction between sequence (alcohol/placebo vs. placebo/alcohol) and session. Particularly, in the first session the participants of the two groups showed similar performance, no matter if they had alcohol or placebo, whereas in the second session participants who had placebo performed better that those who had alcohol. BAC was always within the limit allowed by Italian traffic regulation. No differences were found in the number of accidents occurred in the two groups on the simulator. Conclusions. These results seem to demonstrate that moderate amounts of alcohol do not impair the ability to cope effectively with potentially dangerous situations in principle, and this confirms the appropriateness of the standard of Italian traffic rules. On the contrary, alcohol seems to negatively affect performance in the last session, when participants should show the effects of learning acquired in the previous session.

Simulated motorcycle riding performance under low-dose alcohol in light drinkers. A pilot study.

SPOTO, ANDREA;TAGLIABUE, MARIAELENA;VIDOTTO, GIULIO
2016

Abstract

Background and Aims. Alcohol–involvement continues to be a prominent factor in motorcycle crashes. International crash statistics reveal that involved motorcyclists are over represented at low Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BACs ≤0.05%). Previous experimental studies showed that selected cognitive and motor skills are negatively affected by alcohol. However, current understanding of effects of BAC on motorcycle operation is insufficient. The present pilot study used a riding simulator to investigate the effects of low alcohol dosages on driving ability of light drinkers. Materials and Methods. Double blind, cross-over design. 12 light drinkers (5 females/7 males) aged between 24-60 years, all with valid driving license since at least 3 years, were recruited. The study was carried out through the Honda Riding Trainer (HRT) simulator with BAC monitoring by the Drager Alcotest 6510. We administered moderate amounts of alcohol to participants during 2 sessions (with an interval of one week in between) of moped riding simulation. In both sessions participants had to face with some of the most frequent risky scenarios in on-road riding. Half participants underwent the alcohol condition in the first session and the placebo condition in the second one; while the other half faced the opposite sequence. Results. The dependent variable was an index calculated on the basis of the HRT scores, in which higher values indicated lower performance (in term of accidents and violations). Results of the mixed model ANOVA showed a significant interaction between sequence (alcohol/placebo vs. placebo/alcohol) and session. Particularly, in the first session the participants of the two groups showed similar performance, no matter if they had alcohol or placebo, whereas in the second session participants who had placebo performed better that those who had alcohol. BAC was always within the limit allowed by Italian traffic regulation. No differences were found in the number of accidents occurred in the two groups on the simulator. Conclusions. These results seem to demonstrate that moderate amounts of alcohol do not impair the ability to cope effectively with potentially dangerous situations in principle, and this confirms the appropriateness of the standard of Italian traffic rules. On the contrary, alcohol seems to negatively affect performance in the last session, when participants should show the effects of learning acquired in the previous session.
2016
Abstract Book of the IALM intersocietal symposium P5 Medicine & Justice
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3227825
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