Perception of traffic accident risk and decision to drive under light alcohol consumption - A double-blind experimental study

Purpose: Public traffic safety campaigns in Germany have focussed on the ch anging risk perception of young drivers. While there is some consensus that perceptions of risk affect driving, less is understood about the relations hip and interaction of alcohol consumption and risk perception on the decis ion to drive. We examined the influence of light alcohol consumption on ris k perception and decision to drive, and the interaction of alcohol consumpt ion and cognitive feedback on the handicapping effect of alcohol on risk pe rception and decision to drive. Method: in a double-blind block-randomized experimental study of 104 young drivers between 19 and 24 years of age, wit h two experimentally manipulated independent factors of alcohol consumption (three levels: 0% BAG, 0.015% BAG, 0.03% BAG) and feedback (positive or ne gative), we assessed three dependent variables: perception of traffic accid ent risk subjective judgement about driving-relevant cognitive performance, decision to drive a car Analyses of variance and covariance,were used to a nalyze differences between levels of experimental factors. Results: We foun d that persons,with 0.015 BAC performed better than persons in both other a lcohol conditions on the standardized risk perception task. Perceived handi cap of driving was significantly more pronounced for negative feedback comp ared to positive feedback with no influence of the level of alcohol consump tion. No significant influence on decision to drive was found of either lev el of alcohol consumption, feedback or sex Implications: Decision to drive in young drivers could not be influenced by feedback or light consumption. Public health approaches have to find better determining factors.