Drinking and driving among youth: a study of situational risk factors

The situational factors associated with youthful driving while intoxicated (DWI) and riding with an impaired driver (RWID) are examined. Data were collected from separate samples of youth who had driven while impaired by alcohol and who had ridden with an alcohol-impaired driver. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there are consistent situational factors associated with DWI and RWID among youth, and to ascertain whether the situational factors vary as a function of demographic variables. The results indicate that DWI and RWID are largely a function of the role alcohol plays in the youth culture. When situationally determined, DWI and RWID appear to be controlled by a perceived need to get home or to get a passenger home. The implications of these results for future prevention program planning are discussed.