Drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers among young adults: an analysis of reciprocal effects

This research attempts to test the hypothesis that a reciprocal relationship exists between drinking-driving (DD) and riding with drunk drivers (RWDD) among youth.

Analyses were performed on data from the 1996 New York State Youth Alcohol Survey. The sample is composed of 16- to 24-year-olds who used alcohol and drove automobiles (N = 993). LISREL software was employed to examine the hypothesized simultaneous system between drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers. Alcohol use, driving patterns and perception of negative consequences of drinking-driving behavior were included as independent variables.

The reciprocity between drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers is composed of a relatively strong positive effect of DD on RWDD and a minimal effect of RWDD on DD. Alcohol use has a consistent effect on both drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers. Frequency of weekend driving tends to increase the likelihood of drinking-driving, but not riding with drunk drivers. Youths' perceived likelihood of being arrested if caught drinking-driving appears to have a moderate negative association with drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers for underage youths.

The simultaneous system between drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers tends to be dominated by the effect of the former on the latter. Involvement in drinking-driving among youths is likely to increase the chance of riding with drunk drivers, whereas involvement in RWDD may not necessarily increase the chance of DD. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed. Future research may focus on measurement errors of drinking-driving and riding with drunk drivers to further examine the relationship between these behaviors.