Drinking and Driving Among High-Risk Young Mexican-American Men

Authors

Dary D. Fiorentino '08, Claremont Graduate University
Dale E. Berger, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
Juan R. Ramirez '04, Claremont Graduate University

Student Co-author

CGU Graduate

Document Type

Article

Department

Behavioral and Organizational Sciences (CGU)

Publication Date

2007

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Substance Abuse and Addiction

Abstract

Determinants of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) were explored among a sample of relatively young Mexican-American males with limited income and education, high levels of alcohol consumption, and regular vehicle use. Data were collected using questionnaires (N = 104) and focus groups (N = 27), including a focus group with wives and girlfriends (N = 4). Four mechanisms that may contribute to the high rate of DUI behavior in this population were identified: (1) a subculture of permissiveness toward drinking and driving for men, (2) heavy drinking, promoted by machismo and a propensity to measure masculinity with alcohol intake, (3) inadequate knowledge of DUI statutes and inadequate understanding of the relationships between BAC, impairment, and crash risk, and (4) for undocumented drivers, lack of accountability in case of an alcohol-related incident.

Rights Information

© 2007 Elsevier

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2006.05.013

Recommended Citation

Dary D. Fiorentino, Dale E. Berger, Juan R. Ramirez, Drinking and driving among high-risk young Mexican-American men, Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 39, Issue 1, January 2007, Pages 16-21, ISSN 0001-4575, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2006.05.013. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457506000911)