title: Why drivers start drinking and driving--a prospective study over a 6-year period in the GAZEL cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the frequency with which a group of formerly safe drivers adopt driving while alcohol-intoxicated (DWI), and to determine the factors associated with DWI adoption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were current employees or recent retirees of the French national electricity and gas company. An annual cohort questionnaire that includes two questions about overall alcohol consumption is sent each year to participants. A Driving Behaviour and Road Safety (DBRS) questionnaire was administered in 2001, 2004 and 2007. Only drivers who participated in the 2001 survey received the 2004 and 2007 questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 462 participants ceased DWI between 2001 and 2007, while 511 adopted this behaviour for the first time. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk of adopting DWI was associated with male gender and with several changes over the preceding years: increased alcohol consumption, increased number of close friends, decreased number of close relatives and decreased attitudes in favour of strict enforcement/regulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of offenders stopped DWI between 2001 and 2007, concomitantly with an increased crackdown on road violations in France. But this success was compromised by the occurrence of new drunk drivers. Preventive strategies should target factors that facilitate DWI adoption-in particular, increased alcohol consumption and low acceptance of law enforcement initiatives.
authors: INSERM U897-IFR99, Equipe Avenir Prévention et Prise en Charge des Traumatismes, ISPED, Bordeaux, France. aymery.constant@ehesp.fr
authors: Aymery
authors: A
authors: Constant
authors: Gaelle
authors: G
authors: Encrenaz
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Zins
authors: Sylviane
authors: S
authors: Lafont
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Chiron
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Lagarde
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Messiah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012944:Social Support