Each year hundreds of youth lives are lost as a result of alcohol-impaired driving.College students leaving at-risk drinking environments are at particular risk for harm. Yet, littlefield research has been performed to examine college-student transportation choices paired withbreath alcohol testing of intoxication.The present study assessed the transportation decisions of 7,500 individuals as they leftdrinking establishments near a large, public university in the southeastern U.S. Across threeyears and 72 separate nights, researchers recruited passersby outside of local drinkingestablishments to provide their planned transportation method for returning home and BAC froma police-quality breathalyzer.Results indicated the majority of students were reaching high levels of intoxication.Indeed, the average BAC of drinking participants was .0979 g/dL. Over 50% of participantsreported they were planning to walk home. Approximately one quarter of participants plannedon using a designated driver. Less than five percent of participants were currently unsure abouthow they were getting home.Significant differences in BAC were observed as a function of anticipated method ofreturning home. Contrary to several previous studies, individuals with DDs did not achievehigher BACs than most other individuals.Particularly concerning were the BACs of self-reported drivers. While 36.7% of driverswere completely sober, the average BAC of drinking drivers was .061 g/dL. Furthermore, 39.8%of drivers with BACs over .08 g/dL believed they were under the legal limit to drive.Results suggest focusing intervention efforts on promoting safe and completely soberdesignated drivers.
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