An attribution theory perspective on alcohol-impaired driving

Attribution theory is offered as a theoretical framework for generating and testing hypotheses about how people perceive and respond to the behavior of impaired driving. Recent work on the attribution of responsibility for alcohol-impaired driving indicates that the perceived seriousness of this behavior varies with the consequences and circumstances associated with it. In some instances, impaired driving is not considered to be particularly blameworthy, while in other instances, relatively minor variations in the event sequence have pronounced effects on the assignment of responsibility and punishment. In general, the seriousness of impaired driving is related to the consequences produced. Impaired driving is not perceived as being particularly negligent as long as it does not result in harm to others. Other findings suggest that people are likely to deny the personal relevancy of situations involving impaired driving. The final section of the article discusses the program implications of this research. Specific attention is given to sources of attributional "error" and to how these inaccuracies might be identified and corrected within a prevention/intervention program context.