Which characteristic of alcohol significantly affects driving ability?

The characteristic of alcohol that significantly affects driving ability is divided attention. Alcohol impairs cognitive functions, making it challenging for individuals to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously. Driving requires a combination of skills, including monitoring speed, navigating, reacting to other road users, and adhering to traffic signals. When a person's attention is divided, their ability to process information and react appropriately to rapidly changing driving conditions diminishes significantly, ultimately leading to an increased risk of accidents.

In contrast, characteristics like increased coordination, enhanced alertness, and improved reaction time are generally associated with positive effects but are not accurate descriptions of alcohol's impact on driving. Alcohol typically reduces coordination, causes drowsiness or fatigue, and slows reaction time, impairing overall driving performance.