Ethnic differences in driving after drinking and riding with drinking drivers among adolescents

This study examined the relationship between ethnicity and driving after drinking (DD) and riding with drinking drivers (RWDD) while controlling for drinking patterns, driving practices, and background demographic characteristics including age and gender.

Using random-digit dialing procedures, 1534 young adults ranging from 15- to 20-years of age(mean = 17.6) living in California were recruited to participate in a telephone survey. Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans were oversampled to allow cross-group comparisons.

Rates of DD were lower for females than for males and were also lower for African Americans and Asian Americans than for whites. However, after we controlled for drinking patterns and driving practices, the results showed Latinos at greater risk for DD than white adolescents. Compared with whites and males, Asian American and female adolescents were less likely to report RWDD. When drinking patterns and driving practices were taken into account, Latino adolescents were nearly twice as more likely to ride with drinking drivers than whites.

These findings indicate a greater need for directing prevention efforts to target Latino youth and youth at risk. Moreover, research aimed at elucidating the social and environmental factors involved in the low prevalence rates of DD and RWDD among Asian American youth may indicate possible protective factors to DD and RWDD operating within the Asian American community.