%0 Journal Article
%T Demographic characteristics, drinking patterns and drink-driving behavior of injured male drivers and motorcycle riders
%J Journal of studies on alcohol
%D 1995
%A Holubowycz, O. T.
%A McLean, A. J.
%V 56
%N 5
%P 513-521
%X OBJECTIVE: The demographic characteristics, usual drinking and drink-driving patterns, incidence of problem drinking, precrash drinking behavior and attitudes towards drink-driving of crash-involved male drivers and riders are described and related to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on admission to hospital. A better understanding of these issues will enable drink-driving countermeasures to target more specifically those individuals who are most at risk of being killed or injured in alcohol-related road crashes. METHOD: Between June 1985 and April 1987 interviews were conducted with a sample of 302 male drivers and motorcycle riders admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia. RESULTS: With one exception, the likelihood of having a high BAC (i.e., 80 mg/dl or above) did not differ with demographic profile. As BAC increased, there was a significant increase in: various indices of quantity and frequency of drinking; beer being the preferred beverage; percentages drinking alone, in a hotel, in a vehicle and for various less socially acceptable reasons; frequency of drink-driving; likelihood of previous drink-driving suspension; and, more liberal attitudes towards drink-driving. About 25% of those with a BAC of at least 150 mg/dl were probably experiencing alcohol-related problems prior to the crash, compared with only a very small proportion of those with lower BACs. Precrash drinking most commonly involved drinking in a hotel, drinking with friends and drinking beer, with no significant differences between BAC groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that usual drinking and drink-driving patterns, as well as attitudes to drink-driving, become more extreme as the BAC of male crash-involved drivers and riders increases.
%G 
%I Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies
%@ 0096-882X
%U http://dx.doi.org/