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    J Stud Alcohol. 1998 Sep;59(5):549-54.

    Designated driving among college students.

    Barr A, MacKinnon DP.

    Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1104, USA.

    OBJECTIVE: We studied the frequency of designated driver use, predictors of designated driver use, whether designated drivers use alcohol, and barriers to using a designated driver. METHOD: Undergraduates at Arizona State University (N = 544) completed a questionnaire assessing designated driver use. The mean age of participants was 20.6 years old and 52% were male. Criterion for inclusion in the study was that participants had consumed alcohol at least one time. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent (86%) of participants had used a designated driver. Monthly alcohol use and driving to drinking destinations were positively associated with designated driver use. Ninety-four percent of participants indicated that their designated driver occasionally consumed alcohol. The most frequent reason for not using a designated driver was, "I stayed where I was drinking until I was sober" (37%). Less alcohol use among friends was associated with sounder methods of designated driver selection. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest those groups at risk for alcohol-related driving accidents tend to use designated drivers at high rates, but these groups tend to choose designated drivers who consume alcohol.

    PMID: 9718107 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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