Citation

Shults RA, Kresnow MJ, Lee KC. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2009; 36(6): 515-522.

Affiliation

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2009.03.001

PMID

19362801

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-impaired driving (AID) continues to be a major public health problem in the U.S. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of annual driver- and passenger-reported episodes of AID and explore the effect of sociodemographic characteristics and drinking patterns on both behaviors. METHODS: Data from a nationally representative random-digit-dial telephone survey of U.S. adults were analyzed in 2007. RESULTS: From July 23, 2001, to February 7, 2003, an estimated 7 million drivers reported 190 million annual episodes of AID, and an estimated 10.5 million passengers reported 290 million annual episodes of AID. A comparison of estimates from this survey to those from a similar survey conducted in 1994 shows that episodes of both driver- and passenger-reported AID have increased by slightly more than 50%. Multivariable analysis revealed several gender differences in risk factors for both driver- and passenger-reported AID. For example, being of Hispanic ethnicity and not always wearing a seat belt were both associated with an increased risk of AID episodes for men but not women. A strong association between binge drinking and both driver- and passenger-reported AID was found for both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Episodes of driver- and passenger-reported AID increased substantially between the middle 1990s and the early 2000s. The passenger estimates suggest that drivers may under-report AID by about 50%. Public health interventions to reduce AID should give equal consideration to impaired drivers and their passengers.

Language: en