Examining the effects of fatal vision goggles on changing attitudes and behaviors related to drinking and driving.
This study investigated the effectiveness of the Fatal Vision goggles. College students (N = 251) were randomly assigned to one of four groups including two control groups, a group wearing the goggles, and a group watching those wearing the goggles. Attitudes and behaviors toward drinking and driving were assessed immediately prior to and after the intervention, and then again at a four-week follow up. The group wearing the goggles reported significantly greater declines in accepting attitudes toward drinking and driving compared to the other groups at the immediate post-test. However, these differences disappeared after four weeks. Also, the change in attitude was not accompanied by a similar decrease in drunk driving behaviors. Editors Strategic Implications: School and agency administrators, seeking to reduce unacceptably high rates of drinking and driving, will benefit from this well-designed longitudinal experiment. Replication will be necessary, but the authors present strong evidence that this is a prevention strategy that does not result in behavioral change.
Jewell
Jeremy
J
Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL 62026, USA. jejewel@siue.edu
Hupp
Stephen D A
SD
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*