Does the type of exposure to a roadside sobriety checkpoint influence driver perceptions regarding drunk driving?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the type of exposure to roadside sobriety checkpoints is related to vulnerability of being stopped by the police for drinking and driving.


METHODS
Random household telephone surveys were conducted over 3 years.


RESULTS
Personally exposed drivers had lower perceptions of vulnerability than did drivers who knew a family member who had been stopped. Exposed drivers who also had a family member and an acquaintance that had been stopped had higher perceptions of vulnerability.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct exposure to a checkpoint appears to lower perceptions of risk than if one has had only indirect exposure (ie, family or friends).
Beck
Kenneth H
KH
Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, 2366 Health and Human Performance Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA. kbeck1@umd.edu
Moser
Mary L
ML
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
D000431:Ethanol