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Drivers' differential perceptions of legal and safe driving consumption
Author(s) -
ALBERY IAN P.,
GUPPY ANDREW
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-0443.1995.90224510.x
Subject(s) - apprehension , consumption (sociology) , poison control , drunk drivers , injury prevention , legislation , human factors and ergonomics , driving under the influence , perception , psychology , suicide prevention , deterrence theory , aggressive driving , speed limit , social psychology , environmental health , engineering , computer security , political science , drunk driving , transport engineering , medicine , law , computer science , sociology , social science , neuroscience , cognitive psychology
UK drink‐drive countermeasures have been grounded in deterrence theory and more specifically through per se legislation. Education and information campaigns to stimulate inhibitory behavioural systems have emphasized the legal limit in terms of “driving safeness”. This study examined the relationship between subjective perceptions of safe driving and legal driving consumption limits and other factors important in the decision to drive after drinking. Responses from over 900 drivers established that those who perceived safe consumption levels to be greater than that required to break the law indicated reduced moral commitment to present and possible future countermeasures. These drivers also had previous experience of being breath tested (but not charged with a drink‐driving offence), reported comparatively lower estimates of their chances of apprehension and accident involvement when over the legal limit, showed higher consumption levels on a driving trip and greater self‐reported driving while impaired by alcohol. The implications of the findings for the development and delivery of measures to counter drink‐driving are discussed.