Differences in Alcohol-Impaired Driving Risk Perceptions Between Black and White Young Adults

Risk perceptions for alcohol-impaired driving (AID) are reliably associated with AID behavior. Extant research relies on samples comprising predominantly White individuals, despite racial inequities in alcohol-related harms. This study is one of the first to compare AID risk cognitions in Black and White young adults. We assessed AID cognitions following a moderate dose of alcohol and examined their associations with AID behavior.

Participants (N = 137, M age = 24.57 years, 67% female, 43% Black) received a moderate dose of alcohol (target breath alcohol concentration = .08%). Subjective intoxication and perceived danger of driving were assessed five times following alcohol consumption. Perceived safe driving limit and AID behavior were assessed at baseline, and AID behavior was assessed at 6-month follow-up. Multilevel models tested differences between groups in subjective intoxication and perceived danger, whereas generalized estimating equations tested risk perceptions as predictors of AID behavior both cross-sectionally and prospectively.

Black participants reported lower perceived driving danger than White participants (b = -0.27, p < .05), but no group differences were observed for subjective intoxication or perceived safe limit. Higher subjective intoxication in the lab was prospectively associated with less AID for Black participants (b = -0.43, p < .001). Perceived safe limit was associated with AID, but this association did not differ for Black and White young adults.

Results suggest commonalities and differences in AID risk for Black and White young adults. Future AID research among individuals with minoritized identities is needed to explore how experiences of discrimination influence risk perceptions and AID decision making.