Young People, Drinking Habits, Transportation and Peer Relations. a Questionnaire Study

Drunk driving is a serious problem in traffic. This is true even in Scandinavia where the number of drunk drivers in traffic is lower than in most other countries. In Sweden about a drunk driver is involved in about 25 % of all fatal traffic accidents. The risk of traffic accidents is higher for young people that for older drivers. There is ample evidence that a combination of young age and alcohol use is a strong risk factor in traffic. Also male drivers predominate the accident statistics with drunken drivers. This is also the situation in Sweden although the legal BAC is lower than in most other countries (0.02%) and the number of drunk drivers in traffic is comparatively low. Most of the discussion concerning this problem has dealt with drunk drivers. However, passengers riding with a drink drivers are also at risk (Everett et al, 2001) and as passengers they are in a position where they might have some influence on driver decisions. In Sweden attempts are being made to persuade young persons to intervene when they observe their friends that are driving after alcohol consumption. They can show their concern by avoiding riding with a drunk driver or by trying to stop him or her from driving. In the present study the experiences and intentions of young males and females concerning their interventions against drunken driving were investigated. Such situations can be expected to involve social interplay between individuals and especially between friends or family members. Social factors have also been suggested to provide a possible explanation for drunk driving behaviour (Åberg, 1993).