Self-Efficacy to Drive While Intoxicated: Insights into the Persistence of Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Background: Scant research has examined event-level risk factors for impaired driving in natural drinking settings. This study assessed driving self-efficacy among intoxicated individuals to better understand decision-making about alcohol-impaired driving at night after exiting on-premise drinking establishments. Methods: Interview and breath test data were collected from bar patrons (n = 512) exiting 2 college bar districts in Florida and Texas. Results: Results from a multivariable linear regression model indicated that self-efficacy to drive while intoxicated was more strongly associated with situational variables, that is, perceived drunkenness and self-estimated blood alcohol concentration than patron traits, that is, past-year history of drinking, risk proneness, and sex. A large proportion of bar patrons, particularly men, expressed confidence in their ability to drive, despite being highly intoxicated. Moreover, the majority of legally intoxicated patrons who were confident in their ability to drive were aware of their high level of intoxication. Conclusions: Emphasis should be placed on the enactment and enforcement of policies and laws to prevent alcohol-impaired driving.