A designated driver is an individual who abstains from consuming alcohol and is available to drive home companions who have been drinking. Although increasing designated driving may help reduce the frequency of driving while intoxicated, few empirical studies have been done on designated driving. As a consequence, little is known about the actual numbers of designated drivers at drinking establishments or how to increase that frequency. This paper reports on three experiments designed to test methods for increasing participation in designated driving programs at drinking establishments. The results are analysed in terms of their implications for the role designated driving programs may play in reducing the frequency of driving while intoxicated behaviour. (A)
Abstract