The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of risk-taking behaviours among young-adult drinking drivers who were seriously injured in MVC. The data for this study were collected as part of a randomised clinical trial testing the effectiveness of brief interventions to decrease drinking following alcohol-related vehicular injury. 108 young-adult drinking drivers (85 males and 23 females) were enrolled in the study following a serious vehicular injury. Mean age was 29.41 years (range 18-45, SD 8.05), mean BAC was 166.80 mg/dL (range 12-315, SD 64.23), and mean Injury Severity Score was 10.29 (range 1-36; SD 7.53). In addition to drinking and driving, one risk-taking behaviour was defined as lack of safety restraint use as identified by the police crash report. Self-reported tobacco and drug use as well as questions about precocious (prior to the age of 15) sexual practices and violent behaviour were also considered indicators of risk-taking. Non-alcohol dependent, young-adult drinking drivers demonstrated a pattern of risky behaviours that exceeded national norms.
Abstract