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Do drivers drink more when they use a safe ride?
W M Harding1, B D Caudill, B A Moore
1Social Science Research and Evaluation, Inc, Burlington, MA 01803, USA. wayneh@gis.net
Journal of Substance Abuse
|November 6, 2001
Summary
Free safe rides (SRs) home can prevent drunk driving. While some SR users had higher blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), most did not change risk categories, and SR use was infrequent.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Alcohol Consumption Research
Background:
- Free safe rides (SRs) are offered to prevent driving while intoxicated (DWI).
- Concerns exist that SRs might inadvertently encourage excessive alcohol consumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of free safe rides (SRs) on drinkers' blood alcohol concentrations (BACs).
- To assess whether SR availability influences drinking behavior and risk levels.
Main Methods:
- Survey data from 472 drinkers who utilized SRs were analyzed.
- Respondents reported their BAC levels when using SRs compared to other drinking occasions.
Main Results:
- Mean BAC was higher when using SRs compared to drinking outside the home.
- Only 24% of users moved to a higher BAC risk category (≥0.10) when using SRs.
- The majority (72%) remained in their usual BAC risk category, and one user decreased their BAC.
Conclusions:
- Infrequent use of SRs (3.69 times/year) and infrequent shifts to higher risk categories mitigate concerns about increased BACs.
- The study does not definitively resolve whether increased drinking led to SR use or vice versa.
- Recommendations for enhancing SR programs are discussed.