Most studies so far in this area have focused on the kinds of people who act as DDs, with research showing that DDs tend to be younger, female, single and more educated. In addition those serving as DDs are more likely to have used them themselves as compared with non-DDs. Despite the public enthusiasm about the efficacy of DD use in reducing driving while intoxicated (DWI), little is known about the characteristics of DDs. One criticism of DD programmes has been the belief that individuals who use DDs are most likely those with only low to moderate levels of DWI risk.

A study to profile the characteristics of DD users was set up by Barry Caudill, of the Centre for Studies on Alcohol, Rockville, Maryland et al. The study was part of a longitudinal assessment of the impact of promoting alternative transportation measures such as DDs and safe rides (free rides home) in preventing DWI.

In 2 Maryland communities 1,391 computer-assisted telephone interviews and 983 bar-room surveys were conducted by questioning random samples of community and bar drinkers. Respondents were asked questions about their usual patterns of drinking behaviour and categorised as infrequent, light, moderate, or heavy drinkers. Additional questions sorted respondents into problem drinkers or non-drinkers.

In order to limit the amount of pre-assessment drinking by respondents teams of trained survey administrators recruited customers when they first entered each bar-room. The prevalence of DD use (in the last year) was relatively high (33%) among telephone respondents and even higher (55%) among bar-room respondents. In both samples (telephone and bar-room) DD users tended to be younger and were more often single.

DD users were more likely to drink more often outside the home (and consume more each session), to be problem drinkers, heavier drinkers, to drive when feeling intoxicated and to travel with intoxicated drivers. They also tended to be younger and had more income.

Compared with 35% of non-users, nearly two-thirds (65%) of DD users had themselves served as a DD in the last year and compared with non-users (35%), DD users (72%) were more likely to report using other strategies to avoid travelling with intoxicated drivers (drinking less, paying for a taxi, walking home and staying over night).A similar pattern was found for the bar-room sample.. The results suggested that compared with non-users, designated drivers tended to be at greater risk for drinking and driving. These findings therefore contradict earlier criticisms of DD programmes that heavy and problem drinkers may not use DDS.

Encouragingly younger drinkers were more likely to use DDs (and related studies have shown that users of safe-rides also tend to be younger). This therefore suggests that efforts to promote the use of DDs and safe-rides in the younger drinkers has been effective. But, as the authors point out, in trying to promote the use of these DWI prevention strategies, perhaps more attention should be directed to older drinkers.

Source.DWI prevention: profiles of drinkers who use designated drivers. Addictive behaviours (2001), 26, 155-166. Caudill, B.D., Harding, W.M., and Moore, B.a., Centre for studies on Alcohol, Rockville; and Social science Research and Evaluation, Burlington; and Harvard Medical school, USA. *Correspondence to Dr Barry D. Caudill, Centre for Studies on Alcohol, Westst, 1650 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850, USA, E-mail caudilb@westat.com