Risk for DWI: A New Look at Gender Differences in Drinking and Driving Influences, Experiences, and Attitudes among New Adolescent Drivers

Adolescent drivers are over-represented in fatal auto accidents, especially those in volving alcohol (DWI). Young male drivers appear to be at higher risk than adolescent female drivers because of a variety of important influencing factors. The current study takes a new look at the gender differences in these factors as they relate to driving behavior. Three hundred forty-three tenth-grade students (mean age: 15.8 years; 52% male, 48% female) were studied measuring demographics, family characteristics and influences, drug and alcohol use, perception of driving skill, sensation-seeking, other personality factors and responses to DWI vignettes for decision-making skill. Female respondents more often had difficulty with parents (p = 0.03) than males and more often used drugs and alcohol (p = 0.05). Boys more often attended speed competitions (p = 0.003). had legal problems (p = 0.004), and dated at a younger age (p < 0.001). Males perceived greater driving skill in risky situations and used the automobile to enhance self-efficacy more than females (p = 0.001/p = 0.05). Male drivers scored higher on anger/hostility and sensation-seeking scales (p = 0.05). There were few significant gender differences in the way respondents analyzed risky DWI situations. Even though female subjects used more alcohol/drugs and came from more disturbed family backgrounds, their attitudes and behavior with respect to DWI appear more socially acceptable. Spec ulation as to some of the reasons for this effect are discussed with implications for prevention and further research.