The Effect of Alcohol Intoxication on Driving Performance: An Exploration of Epidemiology, Impairment and Risk Factors Contributing to Drink-Driving Behaviour

Will a drink or two actually make you a better driver? This thesis addressed this enduring debate by diving into decades of drink-driving research. By integrating epidemiological data and experimental investigations, this work adds to the current understanding of how alcohol impairs driving and related neurocognitive functions. A key focus was to determine the prevalence of such behaviour and quantify the consequent impairment. Despite an inability to identify their impairment, drivers under the influence consistently exhibit poorer performance on driving tasks. In shedding light on this contradiction, the findings of this thesis question the unfounded self-assurance of those who consider themselves “good drunk drivers” and contributes to a critical conversation about road safety.