DRINKING AND DRIVING - INTENTIONS, ATTITUDES, AND SOCIAL NORMS OF SWEDISH MALE DRIVERS

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate factors influencing drivers' decisions to drive after alcohol consumption. Male, Swedish, non-teetotal drivers aged 18 to 54 years (N = 1085) answered a questionnaire concerning their experience of drunken driving. The Ajzen and Fishbein model for explaining behavioral intentions from attitudes and social norms was used as a theoretical guideline in design of questionnaire and analysis of data. LISREL analyses suggested a causal model (which was crossvalidated) where intentions to drink and drive were influenced by attitudes, evaluation of sanctions, social norms, and drinking habits. Analyses of reports of decision making indicated that perceived probability of detection (and accidents) or need for transport, tied to specific situations, were important factors for drivers' decisions to drive or not after alcohol consumption.