Assessing The Likelihood Of Drunk Driving: Gender, Context And Lifestyle

This study examines factors relevant to drinking and driving for separate sample of male and female American college students. Drawing on routine activity theory, direct measures of seven theoretical groups of possible influences on drunk driving are assessed. Findings clearly show that it is more important to consider opportunities and lifestyles, and not merely status indicators when assessing drunk driving probabilities. Most importantly, drunk driving likelihood is increased when students drink away from home. Persons who hold more tolerant views of illegal behavior (including drug use) are most likely to drink and drive. Males’ drunk driving likelihoods are influenced by their alcohol and drug consumption routines, participation in illegal behaviors and leisure activities. For females, drunk driving likelihood is contingent on alcohol and drug consumption routines, participation in minor forms of illegal behavior, leisure activities, and transportation routines. © 1999, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC