Evening star., 1936-03-15
DRIVER AFFECTED
BY SMALL DRINKS.
Two or Three Ounces of
Whiskey Lower Efficiency,
Say F. B. |. Data.

As little as two or three ounces OF
whisky will affect adversely the ef-
ticiency Of an automobile driver. ac-
eording to a report just distributed to
the Nations law enforcement agen-
ries by the Federal Bureau Of In
vestigation
Mental processes are slowed up and
neuromuScular coordination disrupt
ed by such small amounts of alcohol,
with corresponding impairment of
ability to act in emergencies, it was
stated.
The findings. made recently by the
British Medical Association, were pub
lished in the F. B. l. Law Enforce
ment Bulletin "to acquaint those in
terested upon the subject of alcohol
and its relation to intoXication and
road accidents"
The study was concentrated on
amounts of alcohol insufficient to pro-
duce drunkenness but large enough
10 have a deleteriouS effect on the
driver Of motor vehicle.
Depressing Effect Definite.
Pointing out that alcohol in any
amount has a definitely depressing
effect on the nervous system, the re-
port said that "the earliest suSpen-
Iion of functions leads to an impair
ment of the faculties Of judgment,
concentration, self-criticism and the
power Of estimating risk" This often
is followed by a sense Of well-being
and dissatisfaction. it was stated.
The early action of alcohol" the
pesearch experts reported, "can hardly
be measured by the crude tests which
determine whether driver is under
rendering him incapable of having
proper control of vehicle
Nevertheless, the effect Of alcohol
leads many persons to take risks and
10 make rapid decisions less judicious-
ly than they would otherwise do. To
what extent this action of small
amounts of alcohol may in the ag-
9regate be responsible for motor ac-
cidents there is no means of eStimat-
ing. 1t is, however. a serious objec-
tion to the consumption of alcohol,
even in small amounts, by any one
who is to drive a car"
Discussing neuromuScular effects,
It was explained that in driving the
eyes ARE constantly moving in re-
sponse to changing visual impressions,
and it is found that the speed with
which the gaze is directed to fresh
objects is measurably impaired by the
drinking of alcohol"
Psychological Tests.
In a summary it was stated:
THE effect of alcohol in a guam
tity corresponding to three ounces of
whisky has been shown by psycholog
ical tests to diminish attention and
control, to reduce capacity to learn
and affect reasoning powers adversely.
The subjects Of such tests frequently
believe-quite erroneously-that they
have performed their tests more eff
GENTLY as result of taking these
amounts of alcohol.
1t has been shown that the con-
sumption of amounts corresponding
to two or three ounces Of whisky
usually affects adversely the power of
making movements dependent on
rapid and accurate coordination
that small amounts of alcohol usu-
ally diminish the rapidity and accuI
racy of neuromuscular coordination.
The elimination of alcohol from
the body is slow process. The body
oxydizes alcohol at the rate of about
one ounce of whisky per hour, and
this rate is not increased when the
concentration of alcohol in the blood
is raised by the drinking of larger
quantities of alcoholic liquor.
Alcohol must frequently affect the
driving capacity of the driver who
takes alcoholic liquor. even in small
amounts. After taking alcohol he
may believe himself to be driving bet
ter, but in fact his body works less
efficiently. This adverse effect gen.
orally occurs even if alcohol is taken
In moderate quantities some hours be-
fore driving, and especially if taken in
the absence of food"