Citation

Sommers MS, Dyehouse JM, Howe SR, Manharth M. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 2000; 2000: -p..

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of risk-taking behaviors among young-adult drinking drivers who were seriously injured in MVC. The data for this study were collected as part of a randomized 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 behavior 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 behavior were also considered indicators of risk-taking. Non-alcohol dependent, young-adult drinking drivers demonstrated a pattern of risky behaviors that exceeded national norms.