University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712TS Groningen, Netherlands.
Accid Anal Prev. 2011 May;43(3):906-10. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2010.11.013. Epub 2010 Dec 14.
A considerable amount of all traffic accidents can be attributed to driving under the influence of alcohol. In particular the group of drivers aged 18-24 years is involved in many serious traffic accidents where alcohol turns out to be a major factor. In fact this age group shows about three times as many alcohol related traffic fatalities as all other categories of road users. The intervention program "Alcohol-free on the road" (Dutch: "Alcoholvrij op weg") aims to enhance young people's awareness of the effects of alcohol by letting them personally experience the effect of alcohol on their driving abilities. To this end, young drivers were invited to a closed circuit and allowed to drive first sober and then intoxicated, guided and guarded by driving instructors. Based on several other studies it was thought that a realistic experience of the effects of alcohol on driving abilities may contribute to a better understanding of the impact of alcohol and may stimulate attitudes that are needed to support the conscious decision not to drive while intoxicated. After more than ten years of running and data collection, 1200 young drivers have participated in the intervention program. In a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent group design, the program is evaluated in order to assess its effectiveness both with respect to the attitudes of the participants and the actual relevant behaviour in the years after the alcohol experience intervention program they attended, i.e. the incidence of actually driving under the influence of alcohol. To do this, a questionnaire was sent to a subset (415) of the participants who have completed the program, along with a control group (450), to compare attitudes and actual behaviour. In addition, the Public Prosecutor checked the files of those who responded, for the occurrence of driving under the influence of alcohol. The group that participated in the alcohol intervention program showed more awareness about the dangers of driving while intoxicated than the control group, and this group reported improved alcohol law compliance. Furthermore, less participants in the intervention program than in the control group were present in the Public Prosecutor files, respectively 0.7% and 4.2%. Hence, the alcohol driving experience intervention program might turn out to be effective and successful in decreasing driving under the influence of alcohol. Although the results of the present study are no more than suggestive, they may be considered a first step towards demonstrating the effectiveness of this type of intervention. However, the intervention is unique and warrants a more robust evaluation. A large-sized randomized controlled trial should be conducted in the next phase to confirm the findings that the intervention program is a suitable educational tool to decrease driving under the influence of alcohol. The present paper serves to raise awareness of this intervention and its potential.
相当数量的交通事故可归因于酒后驾车。特别是 18-24 岁年龄段的驾驶员群体，他们涉及许多严重的交通事故，而这些事故中酒精是一个主要因素。事实上，该年龄段因与酒精相关的交通死亡人数是其他所有道路使用者类别的三倍。干预计划“道路无酒精”（荷兰语：Alcoholvrij op weg）旨在通过让年轻人亲身体验酒精对驾驶能力的影响，提高他们对酒精影响的认识。为此，年轻驾驶员受邀参加一个封闭的赛道，在驾驶指导员的指导和监护下，首先清醒驾驶，然后醉酒驾驶。基于其他几项研究，人们认为对酒精对驾驶能力影响的实际体验可能有助于更好地理解酒精的影响，并可能激发支持在醉酒时不驾驶的有意识决定所需的态度。在运行和收集数据超过十年后，已有 1200 名年轻驾驶员参加了该干预计划。在一项非等效组设计的准实验研究中，该计划的效果将根据参与者的态度以及他们参加酒后干预计划后的实际相关行为（即实际酒后驾车的发生率）进行评估。为此，向完成计划的参与者（415 人）和对照组（450 人）发送了一份调查问卷，以比较态度和实际行为。此外，检察官检查了回应者的档案，以了解是否有酒后驾车行为。与对照组相比，参加酒精干预计划的组对醉酒驾车的危险有了更多的认识，并且该组报告称遵守酒精法规的情况有所改善。此外，干预组中出现酒后驾车行为的参与者比例低于对照组，分别为 0.7%和 4.2%。因此，酒精驾驶体验干预计划可能在减少酒后驾车方面是有效和成功的。尽管本研究的结果只是提示性的，但它们可以被认为是证明这种干预类型有效性的第一步。然而，该干预措施是独特的，需要更有力的评估。下一阶段应进行一项大型随机对照试验，以确认干预计划是减少酒后驾车的合适教育工具的发现。本文旨在提高对这种干预措施及其潜力的认识。
