Norms and Attitudes Related to Alcohol Usage and Driving: A Review of the Relevant Literature. Volume III: Report of Individual Interviews

Pawlowski, Wayne V. · 1982 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report, Volume III of a larger study commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), addresses the need for long-term prevention strategies to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. While short-term deterrence and enforcement are critical, the authors argue that lasting reduction requires changing societal norms to make drinking and driving unacceptable. The study aims to provide a foundation for designing such prevention programs by exploring the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals regarding alcohol use and driving. The research employed a qualitative, exploratory design involving in-depth, open-ended interviews with 40 participants across three developmental stages: early adolescents (ages 13–14), middle-late adolescents (ages 17–18), and young adults (ages 18–25). Participants were recruited from educational institutions in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The sample included both individuals who drove after drinking and those who did not, allowing for comparative analysis. Interviews were conducted by clinical social workers and a psychologist using tailored protocols covering general perceptions of drinking, knowledge of legal issues, personal behavior patterns, and influences from family, peers, and community. Data were analyzed qualitatively to identify trends and factors influencing attitude formation. The findings reveal significant variations in attitudes and behaviors across age groups. Early adolescents, who were non-drivers and mostly non-drinkers, viewed drinking through the lens of parental permission and early experimentation. Middle-late adolescents exhibited strong anti-drinking-and-driving attitudes, heavily influenced by their membership in Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and the recent death of a peer by a drunk driver. This group demonstrated powerful peer norms condemning impaired driving and supporting intervention strategies. Young adults, all of whom had driven after drinking, displayed more complex attitudes, often rationalizing their behavior or failing to recognize the contradiction between their condemnation of drunk driving and their own actions. The study identified that societal influences often encourage drinking and driving, while individuals lack sufficient information to assess their own impairment levels. The significance of this research lies in its identification of key leverage points for prevention programs. The authors conclude that effective long-term prevention must address the societal norms that currently encourage drinking and driving. They highlight the potential of community organizations, schools, and peer groups to counter pro-drinking influences. Specifically, the study suggests that programs should focus on educating drivers about impairment assessment and legal consequences, while leveraging influential social institutions to establish norms of individual responsibility. Although the small, non-random sample limits generalizability, the insights provide valuable direction for policymakers and educators designing interventions to shift cultural attitudes toward alcohol-impaired driving.

Key finding

Societal influences strongly encourage drinking and driving, while individual, community, and social institutions can provide countering effects if supported.

Methodology

other

Sample size: 40

Provenance

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

Topics

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• passenger effects
• parental management

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence