Drinking and Driving
Factors Influencing Accident Risk
Driving involves multiple tasks, the demands of which can change continually. To drive safely, one must maintain alertness, make decisions based on ever-changing information present in the environment, and execute maneuvers based on these decisions. Drinking alcohol impairs a wide range of skills necessary for carrying out these tasks. The following examines alcohol impairment of driving skills and describes some factors that increase motor vehicle crash risk. Blood-Alcohol Concentration The proportion of alcohol to blood in the body is expressed as the blood-alcohol concentration (BAC). In the field of traffic safety, BAC is expressed as the percentage of alcohol in…
