Journal article
Risky car following in abstinent users of MDMA
Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.42(3), pp.867-873
2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.04.015
PMCID: PMC3108507
PMID: 20380914
Abstract
Ecstasy (MDMA) use raises concerns because of its association with risky driving. We evaluated driving performance and risk taking in abstinent recreational MDMA users in a simulated car following task that required continuous attention and vigilance. Drivers were asked to follow two car lengths behind a lead vehicle (LV). Three sinusoids generated unpredictable LV velocity changes. Drivers could mitigate risk by following further behind the erratic LV. From vehicle trajectory data we performed a Fourier analysis to derive measures of coherence, gain, and delay. These measures and headway distance were compared between the different groups. All MDMA drivers met coherence criteria indicating cooperation in the car following task. They matched periodic changes in LV velocity similar to controls (abstinent THC users, abstinent alcohol users, and non-drug users), militating against worse vigilance. While all participants traveled approximately 55
mph (89
kph), the MDMA drivers followed 64
m closer to the LV and demonstrated 1.04
s shorter delays to LV velocity changes than other driver groups. The simulated car following task safely discriminated between driving behavior in abstinent MDMA users and controls. Abstinent MDMA users do not perform worse than controls, but may assume extra risk. The control theory framework used in this study revealed behaviors that might not otherwise be evident.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Risky car following in abstinent users of MDMA
- Creators
- Elizabeth Dastrup - Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAMonica N Lees - Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAAntoine Bechara - Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAJeffrey D Dawson - Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAMatthew Rizzo - Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.42(3), pp.867-873
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.aap.2009.04.015
- PMID
- 20380914
- PMCID
- PMC3108507
- NLM abbreviation
- Accid Anal Prev
- ISSN
- 0001-4575
- eISSN
- 1879-2057
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000049, name: National Institute on Aging, award: AG17177; DOI: 10.13039/501100010232, name: National Institute of Development Administration, award: DA017341
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Public Health Administration; Biostatistics
- Record Identifier
- 9983997492702771
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