Although indicators of impaired driving among adolescents have declined over the past decade, drinking-driving crashes remain one of the largest causes of death for this age group. In this work the authors developed demographic and behavioural profile of the adolescent drinking driver, in order to identify possible countermeasures for those young people that continue to drink and drive. Approximately 1200 students with valid drivers licences in grades 11 and 12 were surveyed. The surveys were conducted in seven schools in two regions of the province of Ontario (one region in the north and one in the south). Regional differences in drinking-driving behaviour is described. Similarly, the moderating effects on drinking-driving rates of rural versus urban residence and accessibility of public transportation is described. The behavioural measures examined driving frequency and locations, drinking frequency and locations, and use of drugs other than alcohol. Of particular interest is the determination of factors, in the subset of students who report both recent drinking and recent driving, which distinguish those who drink and drive from those who do not. (A)
Abstract