Final answer:
Alcohol and drugs negatively affect steering control, reaction time, and judgment, which are all vital for safe driving. The cerebellum's sensitivity to alcohol explains the impairment in coordination, while reaction time and judgment are also compromised, leading to a higher risk of accidents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of alcohol and/or drugs can significantly impair various driving skills. The specific driving skills affected by the consumption of alcohol or drugs include steering control, reaction time, and judgment. All of these skills are essential for safe driving and are compromised when under the influence, which significantly increases the risk of accidents on the road. Alcohol affects the cerebellum, an area of the brain responsible for coordination and balance, which can result in difficulty with maintaining steering control. Reaction time is slowed as the nervous system's ability to respond to sudden changes is compromised. Judgment, which is critical for making quick and safe decisions while driving, is also significantly impaired, making it more difficult to anticipate and respond to traffic conditions and actions of other drivers. The Field Sobriety Test (FST) is a practical example of how law enforcement officers test for the influence of alcohol in drivers, gauging their coordination and ability to perform tasks requiring a sober state.