Bystanding to prevent drink-driving: Young adults' descriptions of factors that promote and restrict their behavior

Drink driving remains a leading contributor to motor-vehicle fatalities. For young adults, a sizeable proportion of their drinking is with friends, who may have opportunity to plan ahead or potentially intervene and speak up against drink-driving. We sought to explore young adults' preventive behaviors toward friends and the potential relevance for the classic Latané and Darley social psychology theory of bystander intervention.

Across two studies we interviewed 63, 18-25-year-old Australians, using semi-structured interview schedules (approximately 30-45 min). Study 1 focused on experiences and perception of driving the day after drinking; and study 2 explored online communication about drink-driving. Exploration in both studies considered strategies used to support friends and prevent drink-driving. We used a deductive theory-guided approach considering: perceptions and interpretation of risk/ danger around drink-driving, a sense of responsibility, and having the confidence to enact a prevention strategy with friends. In addition, an inductive approach was employed to explore descriptions of protective behavior.

The bystander theory provided an appropriate conceptualization with findings highlighting consideration of noticing and interpreting drink-driving as harmful. Findings highlighted that young adults value looking out for their friends and to a lesser extent described considerations of the challenges they had in supporting their friends.

The descriptions provided by young adults highlight nuance and considerations made in attempts to reduce the likelihood of drink-driving. The theory provided structure to findings and highlights potential considerations in attempts to promote bystander intervention among young adults.