High-risk behaviors and experiences with traffic law among night drivers in Curitiba, Brazil

Ulinski, Sandra L.; Moysés, Simone T.; Werneck, Renata I.; Moysés, Samuel J. · 2016 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2014-1574

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Summary

This study investigates high-risk behaviors and experiences with traffic law enforcement among night drivers in Curitiba, Brazil, aiming to characterize the demographic and behavioral profiles of drivers who engage in risky practices such as driving after alcohol consumption. Motivated by the high prevalence of traffic crashes linked to human factors and alcohol use, particularly among young adults, the research seeks to provide evidence for tailoring public health interventions and traffic control strategies. The researchers conducted an observational, cross-sectional study involving 398 drivers aged 18 and older. Data were collected through interviews at police sobriety checkpoints between March and November 2012. Drivers were randomly intercepted by police, and those who consented to participate were interviewed by field researchers using a structured survey. The instrument assessed sociodemographic parameters, alcohol consumption patterns (categorized as no consumption, moderate, or binge), high-risk behaviors, and experiences with traffic law violations. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were used to examine associations between variables. The results indicated that half of the participants reported driving after drinking in the preceding year. This behavior was significantly associated with being male, single, aged 18 to 29, and engaging in binge drinking. Among binge drinkers, 82.5% admitted to driving under the influence. Despite 79.4% of these drivers knowing the penalties for drunk driving, only 55% expressed concern about being detected by police. Furthermore, 63.3% had never been pulled over at a roadblock, and 84.5% had never undergone a breathalyzer test. Binge drinking was also associated with motorcycle use and having a driver’s license issued less than one year prior. Drivers who admitted to drinking and driving were more likely to have been fined for other violations, such as speeding or failing to wear a seatbelt, though fines specifically for drunk driving were infrequent. The study concludes that young, single men who binge drink represent a high-risk group with a low perception of punishment due to the low probability of detection. The findings suggest that awareness of laws is insufficient to deter risky behavior without effective enforcement. The authors argue that current enforcement strategies in Curitiba are inadequate, leading to a sense of impunity. They recommend increasing the frequency and randomness of sobriety checkpoints to enhance the perceived risk of punishment, which is crucial for modifying driver behavior and reducing traffic injuries.

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence