NCJ Number
161212
Journal
Journal of Studies on Alcohol Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 408-413
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Since survey research suggests few if any gender differences in the type and frequency of informal drunk driving intervention, in contrast to laboratory studies indicating men are more likely to help than women, the present study examined the frequency and success rate of several informal drunk driving interventions for men and women.
Abstract
The influence of the gender of the intervenor and the intoxicated individual and the intervenor's familiarity with the individual on the use and success of different interventions were evaluated. Students from three sociology classes at the University of California, Los Angeles, completed a drinking and driving questionnaire. Of 388 subjects, 303 (78 percent) reported having been in a driving under the influence situation within the past year and 206 students (68 percent) who reported having intervened at least within the past year were used in the study. Results showed that women were just as likely as men to intervene. There were few gender differences in frequency and success rates for different intervention types. Familiarity with the intoxicated individual increased intervention frequency and success, but intervention with strangers occurred under certain circumstances. Since interventions examined in the study were determined a priori, however, gender differences may still have been operative. Research evidence that men and women approach potential drunk drivers differently is noted, and the need to further examine the role of familiarity in drunk driving interventions is stressed. 31 references, 3 tables, and 3 figures