Experimental Testing of Designated Driver Cues

Details

• Creators:
  Lange, James E. ; Baker, Tara Kelley ; Johnson, Mark
• Corporate Creators:
  Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Research and Traffic Records
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Behavior Countermeasures Designated Drivers Drunk Driving Pilot Studies
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-HS-809-178
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1525471
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  San Diego (California) ; Mexico
• Contracting Officer:
  Ellison-Parker, Patty
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Abstract:
  In theory, the designated-driver concept holds great promise for reducing the incidences of drunk driving. It is simple, inexpensive, almost universally recognized, and generally positively regarded by the U.S. population as a means for avoiding drunk driving. In practice, however, research has shown that implementing the designated-driver concept is often flawed. This pilot study was designed to begin to address the factors that may impede proper implementation of the designated-driver concept. One possible impediment was postulated to be the "mindlessness" (Langer, 1989) with which people approach the drinking location. In this case, designated drivers are not considered because travel routines do not elicit alternatives into consciousness. Cueing the concept at an appropriate point for designation of the driver was a possible way to counteract this mindlessness and, thus, activate the designated driver concept. The experiment was conducted at the San Ysidro border crossing. There, on weekend nights, thousands of young San Diegans cross into Tijuana to patronize bars and clubs and to engage in binge drinking (Lange & Voas, 2000). Groups of crossers were sampled as they arrived on the Mexico side of the border and they were offered incentives to check in upon their departure from Tijuana. Groups were randomly assigned to either a cue or neutral condition, where cued participants were asked to identify their designated driver. Alcohol breath tests were administered to all participants when arriving and when departing. A total of 404 participants checked in upon their return. Results showed that merely cueing subjects about the use of a designated driver is insufficient to change drinking behavior. Additional interventions are presented that could also be attempted at the Tijuana border. /Abstract from report summary page/
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  NHTSA - Behavioral Safety Research
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4ce06b0d27a8afba7d504b58a3e7181db4da6e7f11450413af2b564e62c89b92
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1680/dot_1680_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.11 MB ]