title: Passengers of impaired drivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study are: (a) to estimate the prevalence of passengers riding with alcohol-impaired drivers; (b) to investigate the role of demographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational status) and relevant driving conditions (time of the day, trip origin, vehicle ownership) on shaping the likelihood of alcohol-impaired driving; (c) to identify and estimate the prevalence of passengers as alternative drivers (PADs); and (d) to examine the role that vehicle ownership plays in shaping the occurrence of PADs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from a unique convenience sample of passengers obtained from the 2007 National Roadside Survey, a random sample of drivers from the 48 contiguous states.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of PADs in the targeted population (mostly weekend night vehicles) was higher with drivers at .00<BAC<.08 (17%-43%) than at BAC≥.08 (6%-29%) drivers. The evidence suggests that targeted policies to encourage PADs to drive might be possible. However, vehicle ownership is a large impediment for PADs to act as designated drivers. We speculate that vehicle ownership may be a main reason for the less-than expected success of the "designated driver" concept.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), Impaired Driving Center, PIRE, 11720 Beltsville Dr., Suite 900, Calverton, MD 20705-3111, USA. romano@pire.org
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelley-Baker
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacey
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult