High-risk behaviors and experiences with traffic law among night drivers in Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To explore high-risk behaviors and experiences with traffic law among night drivers in Curitiba, Brazil. Method: Data from 398 drivers on sociodemographic parameters, high-risk behaviors, experiences with traffic law, and traffic law violations were collected through interviews conducted at sobriety checkpoints. Exploratory-descriptive and analytical statistics were used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 32.6611.2 years (range, 18 to 75 years). Half of the drivers reported having driven after drinking in the last year, predominantly single men aged 18 to 29 years who drive cars and drink alcohol frequently. Only 55% of the drivers who had driven after drinking in the last year self-reported some concern about being detected in a police operation. Conclusions: A significant association was found between sociodemographic variables and behavior, which can help tailor public interventions to a specific group of drivers: young men who exhibit high-risk behaviors in traffic, such as driving after drinking alcohol, some of whom report heavy alcohol consumption. This group represents a challenge for educational and enforcement interventions, particularly because they admit to violating current laws and have a low perception of punishment due to the low risk of being detected by the police.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in Brazil: An Analysis by Macroregion

“…Some studies have shown that single people adopt more risky behaviors (e.g., excessive speed and DUIA) than those who are married [18,50,51]. Similarly, this study found unmarried status to be a risk factor for DUIA in all Brazil and in the Central-West macroregion.…”

“…The independent variables included: (i) sex: Female or male; (ii) age (years): 18-29, 30-39, 40-59, or ≥60 [30]; (iii) self-reported race/skin color: White, black, brown, or others (native Brazilian or Asian); (iv) education level: Illiterate or elementary school incomplete, elementary school complete or high school incomplete, high school complete or college school incomplete, or college school complete or above; (v) marital status: With partner or without partner [18]; (vi) residence area: Within the capital, within of metropolitan regions, or within other regions (residence outside the capital or metropolitan regions); (vii) age at start of alcohol use (years): ≥18 or <18 [15]; (viii) binge drinking in the previous 30 days: No or yes [15]; (ix) tobacco use in the previous 30 days: No or yes; and (ix) depression: No or yes. To account for variation in each macroregion, the state was also considered as an independent variable.…”

Cause-specific mortality for 249 causes in Brazil and states during 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2015

“…Although there was a nationwide decrease, pedestrians remain the main victims of RTI. Brazil has relatively strong national legislation on key aspects of road safety, but a reasonable doubt emerges about its enforcement, especially related to drinking and driving laws [ 62 , 63 ]. Numbers of motorcyclist road injury deaths increased the most from 1990 to 2015, probably linked to a high rise in the use of this kind of vehicle [ 64 ].…”

Drug use and driving behaviors among drivers with and without alcohol-related infractions

“… 36 , 37 Some studies have shown that repeat offenders in Brazil are usually aware of the traffic laws and risks of TCs involving specific behaviors, which supports the fact that there is lack of social deterrence among Brazilian drivers. 38 , 39 In our study, 43.3% of drivers with alcohol-related infractions reported they had been stopped at a roadblock in the previous year. Although most said they believed in the effectiveness of enforcement, they were being fined for drinking and driving at the time of data collection.…”

“…While there is still no consensus, most studies suggest that social deterrence is an effective way to reduce negative outcomes in traffic 36,37. Some studies have shown that repeat offenders in Brazil are usually aware of the traffic laws and risks of TCs involving specific behaviors, which supports the fact that there is lack of social deterrence among Brazilian drivers 38,39. In our study, 43.3% of drivers with alcohol-related infractions reported they had been stopped at a roadblock in the previous year.…”