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Drink‐driving and Adolescent Lifestyles: Re‐Thinking Policy
Author(s) -
Papadakis Elim,
Moore Anya
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1839-4655
pISSN - 0157-6321
DOI - 10.1002/j.1839-4655.1991.tb01227.x
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , legislation , enforcement , psychological intervention , diversity (politics) , project commissioning , politics , public relations , focus group , publishing , psychology , political science , social psychology , law , business , marketing , medicine , psychiatry
The difficulty of evaluating the effectiveness of programmes to tackle road safety is well‐known. Understandably most funds are spent on programmes (like manipulation of the physical environment and law enforcement) which are directed towards all road users rather than targeted at specific groups. In this paper we are concerned with the need to develop strategies for tackling the problem of drink‐driving among a highly vulnerable group, namely young people. After examining the problem of drink‐driving amongadolescents, we review some ofthe explanations for this phenomenon and consider their strengths and weaknesses. We take issue with the argument that only crude measures involving reductions in exposure to risk have any hope ofsuccess with young drivers. Our central argument is based on two distinct areas of research. The first has specifically identified adolescents asa vulnerable group. Thesecond hasdemonstrated the distinctive character of adolescent lifestyles. The paper attempts to demonstrate that drink‐driving forms an integral part of the lifestyles of many adolescents. Educational and ‘lifestyle’ interventions should therefore focus specifically on adolescents and consider the diversity of lifestyles and social groups within this broad demographic category. We also draw attention to economic interests, social pressures and the politics ofroad safety legislation that imply constraints on policy change.