This article describes a study, which is the first in Israel to investigate knowledge concerning drinking and driving among a large group of 2408 adolescents of four religions in the north of Israel, in the winter of 1995. The article analyses the results by referring to general scores and to five areas in the "drinking and driving" domain: legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit, minimal number of drinks prohibited by the law before driving, common myths, main effects of alcohol on driving ability and youth vulnerability. The article emphasizes differences between the Jewish group and the non-Jewish (Arab) group. The average score of the sample was 2.06 (out of 5). Jews received the highest score (2.30) and Moslems got the lowest score (1.45). No differences were found among those who had a driving license and those who had not, and between the group of respondents from the north of Israel and a sample of participants from the center of the country. Lack of knowledge was revealed especially concerning knowledge about the BAC limit and youth vulnerability. Arabs tended to exaggerate the amount of drinks allowed to be consumed before driving according to the law, to hold common myths more than Jews and to get lower scores concerning alcohol main effects on driving skills. However, they tended to be more aware than Jews to youth vulnerability. (Author/publisher).
Samenvatting