A Social Network Analysis of Alcohol-Impaired Drivers in Maryland: An Egocentric Approach

Ahmed, Ashraf; Farkas, Andrew{33942}; Beck, Kenneth · 2011 · ROSA P / Maryland. State Highway Administration. Office of Policy & Research

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Summary

This study investigates the social network dynamics of alcohol-impaired drivers in Maryland to understand how personal, household, and social structural attributes influence drinking and driving behaviors. Motivated by the persistent issue of alcohol-related fatalities and the limited success of traditional mass-media interventions, the research aims to determine if social networks can serve as a vehicle for behavioral modification. The study specifically examines the communication patterns, activity-travel behaviors, and interpersonal influences within the networks of first-time DUI offenders, hypothesizing that understanding these dynamics could inform more effective intervention programs. The researchers employed an egocentric social network analysis approach, focusing on "egos" (the DUI offenders) and their "alters" (the closest social contacts). The study population consisted of first-time DUI offenders in Maryland from 2008 to 2009. Although 6,212 drivers were invited to participate, only 163 egos and 88 alters completed telephone interviews, receiving financial incentives for their participation. Data collection involved separate questionnaires for egos and alters, covering demographics, driving history, and social context. The analysis utilized statistical methods including frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, and exploratory factor analysis to create composite scales for "social facilitation" (drinking for sociability) and "emotional pain" (drinking to relieve stress). Egos were categorized by network size (many vs. few friends) to compare behavioral differences. Key findings reveal distinct behavioral patterns based on social network size. Egos with many friends were typically younger, white, and unmarried, and they drank primarily in social contexts such as parties or public functions. In contrast, egos with few friends were more likely to drink to relieve emotional pain. On the day of their citation, 44% of egos were drinking at a bar, a figure higher for those with larger networks. While egos generally had more moving violations than their alters, those with many friends reported more recent violations than those with few friends. Notably, despite engaging in risky behaviors, egos and alters influenced each other positively, with a significant percentage of alters offering rides to prevent impaired driving. Receiving citations demonstrated a deterrent effect, and alters were more likely than egos to perceive a risk in driving home after drinking. The study concludes that social network size significantly affects the context of drinking and traffic violation rates. The similarity in background and behavior between egos and alters, combined with their mutual positive influence, suggests that social networks are viable targets for intervention. The findings imply that programs leveraging face-to-face interactions and network dynamics may be more effective than isolated educational campaigns. By highlighting the role of social facilitation and emotional pain in drinking contexts, the research provides a framework for developing targeted strategies that utilize peer influence to reduce alcohol-impaired driving.

Key finding

Egos and alters exhibited similar driving and drinking behaviors, and the size of the social network determined whether drinking was motivated by social facilitation or emotional pain relief.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 163

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

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• passenger effects