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Objective: The present study tested reciprocal associations between drinking-and-driving behavior and cognitions as youths transition to driving independently. We hypothesized that experience with driving and experience with drinking and driving would effect changes in cognitions about drinking and driving over time. We also tested cognitions as predictors of later drinking-and-driving behavior. Method: Two hundred and two high school youths completed mailed questionnaire measures at two time points, approximately 8 months apart. Questionnaire measures assessed youths' drinking-and-driving behavior, riding with a drinking driver, drinking-and-driving attitudes, normative beliefs, and perceived negative consequences at both time points. Results: Consistent with hypotheses, prior drinking-and-driving experience influenced changes in drinking-and-driving cognitions. Youths with drinking-and-driving experience at Time 1 saw drinking and driving as more dangerous over time; however, they perceived their peers as more accepting of this behavior. Time 1 attitudes predicted increased drinking-and-driving frequency at Time 2, and normative beliefs predicted increased frequency of riding with a drinking driver. Conclusions: These results support reciprocal associations between drinking-and-driving cognitions and behavior. Results of this study may have implications for the timing and content of drinking-and-driving interventions to reduce drinking and driving as well as riding with a drinking driver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Teens drink/drive less often than adults but are more likely to crash when they do drink/drive. This study identified alcohol-related crash types for which teen drivers were at greater risk compared with adults. Method: Michigan State Police crash records for drivers ages 16-19 (teens) and 45-65 years (adults) who experienced at least one crash from 1989 to 1996 were used to create alcohol crash types consisting of alcohol-related crashes that included specific combinations of other crash characteristics, such as drinking and driving at night (i.e., alcohol/nighttime). These data were combined with data from the 1990 and 1995 National Personal Travel Surveys and the 2001 National Household Travel Survey to estimate rates and rate ratios of alcohol-related crash types based on person-miles driven. Results: Teens were relatively less likely than adults to be involved in alcohol-related crashes but were significantly more likely to be in alcohol-related crashes that included other crash characteristics. Teen males' crash risk was highest when drinking and driving with a passenger, at night, at night with a passenger, and at night on the weekend, and casualties were more likely to result from alcohol-related nighttime crashes. All the highest risk alcohol-related crash types for teen female drinking drivers involved casualties and were most likely to include speeding, passenger presence, and nighttime driving. Conclusions: The frequency with which passengers, nighttime or weekend driving, and speeding occurred in the highest risk alcohol-related crash types for teens suggests that these characteristics should be targeted by policies, programs, and enforcement to reduce teen alcohol-related crash rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]