Factors associated with planned avoidance of alcohol-impaired driving in high-risk men.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the factors associated with planning to avoid alcohol-impaired driving and successful avoidance in high-risk young men.


METHODS
A targeted telephone survey was conducted with male drivers aged 21-35 years who consume alcohol and live in areas of the country where alcohol-related traffic fatalities occur frequently (N = 750). Heavy episodic drinking drivers (i.e., report driving after consuming five or more drinks) were oversampled (N = 230). Respondents were surveyed to assess their attitudes, behavior and social support regarding drinking-driving.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression revealed that men who believe they can consume six drinks or more before it is too dangerous for them to drive were 45% less likely to report planning to avoid drinking-driving. Men who believe they can drive safely after heavy episodic drinking were 61% less likely to be successful in avoiding drinking-driving. Having friends who disapprove of driving after heavy episodic drinking and believing a close friend would be successful in preventing drinking-driving were significantly associated with making plans to avoid drinking-driving, although this association was less strong for successful avoidance. Men who had their wife/girlfriend along when they were out drinking were two and one-half times more likely to make plans to avoid drinking-driving. The presence of a wife or girlfriend was an even stronger predictor (multivariate odds ratio = 3.74) of successful avoidance.


CONCLUSIONS
Attitude and social factors are associated with drinking-driving avoidance in a group of young men at risk for alcohol-related driving fatalities. Friends and wives/girlfriends appear to influence drinking-driving avoidance behavior in high-risk drinking drivers.
Nelson
T F
TF
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Isaac
N E
NE
Kennedy
B P
BP
Graham
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors