Traffic deaths and injuries are among the most frequent causes of deaths and disability worldwide. In the United States, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. Yet, information about the prevalence of drinking and driving behaviours of the U.S. general population is lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the magnitude of driver-based (i.e., driving while drinking and driving after having too much to drink) and passenger-based (i.e., riding with a drinking driver and riding as a passenger while drinking) drinking and driving behaviours confronting contemporary America. The past-year prevalence data were stratified by major socio-demographic characteristics to identify important determinants of drinking and driving behaviours for further research. Data were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, n = 43,093). In 2001–2002 there were 23.4 million, or 11.3%, of American adults who reported engaging in at least one of the four driver- or passenger-based drinking and driving behaviours. The prevalences of passenger-based drinking and driving behaviours were generally greater than those of the driver-based measures. For all four drinking and driving behaviours, age was inversely associated with the risk and males were at greater risk with the associated male-to-female ratios of approximately 3.0. Our data also suggested that Native Americans, individuals who were widowed/separated/divorced or never married, and those with greater than a high school education were also at greater risks of all drinking and driving behaviours. (Author/publisher)
Abstract