TY - JOUR PY - 1999// TI - Factors associated with planned avoidance of alcohol-impaired driving in high-risk men JO - Journal of studies on alcohol A1 - Isaac, N. E. A1 - Graham, J. D. A1 - Kennedy, Bruce P. A1 - Nelson, Toben F. SP - 407 EP - 412 VL - 60 IS - 3 N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study examines the factors associated with planning to avoid alcohol-impaired driving and successful avoidance in high-risk young men. METHOD: A targeted telephone survey was conducted with male drivers aged 21-35 years who consume alcohol and live in areas of the country where alcohol-related traffic fatalities occur frequently (N = 750). Heavy episodic drinking drivers (i.e., report driving after consuming five or more drinks) were oversampled (N = 230). Respondents were surveyed to assess their attitudes, behavior and social support regarding drinking-driving. RESULTS: Multiple logistic regression revealed that men who believe they can consume six drinks or more before it is too dangerous for them to drive were 45% less likely to report planning to avoid drinking-driving. Men who believe they can drive safely after heavy episodic drinking were 61% less likely to be successful in avoiding drinking-driving. Having friends who disapprove of driving after heavy episodic drinking and believing a close friend would be successful in preventing drinking-driving were significantly associated with making plans to avoid drinking-driving, although this association was less strong for successful avoidance. Men who had their wife/girlfriend along when they were out drinking were two and one-half times more likely to make plans to avoid drinking-driving. The presence of a wife or girlfriend was an even stronger predictor (multivariate odds ratio = 3.74) of successful avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: Attitude and social factors are associated with drinking-driving avoidance in a group of young men at risk for alcohol-related driving fatalities. Friends and wives/girlfriends appear to influence drinking-driving avoidance behavior in high-risk drinking drivers.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0096-882X UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -