Effects of alcohol on highway driving in the STISIM driving simulator

The STISIM driving simulator is widely used. To enhance its usefulness in pharmacological research, a calibration study was performed to test a standardized highway driving test scenario after administration of three different dosages of alcohol and placebo.

Twenty-seven healthy young adults (14 men and 13 women; mean age (SD) = 22.8 (1.4)) participated in this randomized, single-blind crossover trial. Subjects received alcohol to gain a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%, 0.08%, and 0.11%, or placebo-alcohol. In each condition, subjects completed a 100-km highway driving simulator test. The standard deviation of lateral position, the weaving of the car, was the primary parameter of the test.

Alcohol produced dose-dependent driving impairment. Standard deviation of lateral position and standard deviation of speed were significantly increased relative to placebo (p < 0.05). Subjective driving assessments were in line with the objective driving measurements.

The STISIM highway driving simulator test is able to differentiate dose-dependent impairment after administration of alcohol. The highway driving test scenario is suitable for future psychopharmacological research.