Problem drinking and high-risk driving: an analysis of official and self-reported drinking-driving in New York State

The authors collected data from 878 respondents at high risk of problem drinking and drunk driving and tested a hypothesis that stipulates problem drinking and high-risk driving as two necessary conditions of drunk driving. Controlling for a number of alcohol and non-alcohol-related variables, the analysis shows problem drinking to have consistent and significant effects on repeat DWI offenses and on the frequency of self-reported drinking-driving events. High-risk driving increases the frequency of self-reported drinking-driving. Males are more likely than females to be arrested for DWI, but there is no gender differences in self-reported drinking-driving. The authors further note a possible 'suppress effect' in that a negative relationship between DWI arrests and high-risk driving is concealed by problem drinking. That is, problem drinkers with multiple DWI arrest records may drive more carefully than before so as to avoid further contact with the police and licensing authorities. Public policy implications of the findings are discussed.