A mixed methods approach to investigate factors influencing young drivers’ intention to drink and drive: A case study from an alcohol-prohibited country

Abstract

Drunk driving is a worldwide road safety concern that has led to road crashes. In Iran, while the production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol are prohibited, drinking has increased significantly over the last decade, resulting in a corresponding rise in drunk driving and related crashes. Therefore, this study adopted a mixed methods approach aimed at evaluating the factors influencing young drivers’ intentions to drink and drive, along with the facilitators and barriers to this behavior. Quantitative data was collected from 537 drivers aged between 18 and 25 with valid driving license in Tehran, Iran. An extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model was proposed, and structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the proposed model. Qualitative data was collected via semi-structured interviews with 33 young drivers who had engaged in drunk driving at least once in the past six months, and reflective thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings of the survey highlighted the prevalence of drunk driving among young drivers, as 24.4% of participants reported driving under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past six months. The results showed that perceived risk, perceived behavioral control, attitudes, descriptive norms, and perceived ability to manipulate enforcement were significant predictors of intentions to drink and drive. The results of the interviews revealed that participants considered the social and cultural context of the country as the basis for the facilitators and barriers of drunk driving, subsequently forming their future behavior. Social restrictions for drinking and lack of education and specific legislation were mentioned as the facilitators, while legal and non-legal sanctions were considered as important barriers. The findings of this study provided an understanding of the underlying constructs of drunk driving to provide effective policy and practical implications that can be developed to address the issue.