Alcohol, personality traits, and high risk driving: A comparison of young, drinking driver groups

doi:10.1016/0306-4603(92)90062-Z

Addictive Behaviors

Volume 17, Issue 6, November–December 1992, Pages 525-532

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4603(92)90062-Z Get rights and content

Abstract

Four types of drinking driver groups were compared with each other and also with two nondrinking driver groups on sensation seeking, social responsibility, and hostility. Groups were also compared on traffic violations, accidents, alcohol consumption, frequency of driving after drinking, frequency of driving impaired, and perception of driving risk taking after drinking. Drivers under the influence apprehended in conjunction with an accident or moving violation had significantly greater alcohol consumption, frequency of driving after drinking, frequency of driving impaired, traffic violations, accidents, and self rating of risk taking after drinking in comparison with other groups.

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This is similar to the findings in the leadership literature, that subclinical levels of “dark traits” can be highly predictive of specific dysfunctional behaviors (Harms et al., 2011). Some previous research has indeed shown that specific subgroups of drivers, like those engaging in frequent DUIs, can be characterized by some aspects of psychopathy, like the psychopathic deviate characteristics measured by the MMPI (e.g., Cavaiola et al., 2003; McMillen et al., 1992), but the present is one of the very few investigations to examine the association between multiple aspects of psychopathy and specific driving behaviors. Verifying most of its predictions, the current investigation has revealed that high and low levels of the same trait (fear) are predictive of similar outcomes (crashes and misconduct) but through entirely different routes.
In spite of the well-documented connection between personality traits like impulsivity, sensation seeking and fearlessness with aberrant driving behaviors, scarce research exists to examine the association between risky and aggressive driving and psychopathic characteristics, which encompass the above traits. The present investigation examines in two studies the association between specific sub-types of driving misconduct, i.e., unintentional mistakes and deliberate rule violations with psychopathic characteristics, with a focus on the role of levels of fear and anxiety in aberrant driving. Findings support the hypotheses that fearlessness, i.e., the bold, unemotional aspect of psychopathic traits, characterizes drivers who engage in frequent deliberate driving code violations, whereas the more impulsive/antisocial aspect of psychopathy, associated with higher levels of fear and anxiety, is more characteristic of drivers who engage in unintentional mistakes. Fearless features are also associated with higher self-reported driving misconduct and accidents. Study 2 conceptually replicated this finding by showing that mistakes are positively related to high sensitivity to punishment, while violations are negatively related to it. Findings are discussed in light of psychopathy theory and in relation to prevention and intervention.
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The vast majority of this research has relied on analyses of driving records, surveys, and personality inventories. Driving records show that DUI offenders commit more moving violations, such as speeding, and are involved in more accidents compared with the general population (Bishop, 2011; Donovan, Marlatt, & Salzberg, 1983; McMillen, Pang, Wells-Parker, & Anderson, 1992). Survey studies of DUI drivers have used self-report inventories to assess levels of impulsivity among DUI offenders (Chalmers, Olenick, & Stein, 1993; Hubicka, Kallmen, Hiltunen, & Bergman, 2010; Ryb, Dischinger, Kufera, & Read, 2006).
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The present study examined the degree to which DUI drivers display deficits of inhibitory control in response to alcohol and the degree to which alcohol impaired their simulated driving performance. It was hypothesized that DUI offenders would display an increased sensitivity to the acute impairing effects of alcohol on simulated driving performance. Young adult drivers with a history of DUI and a demographically-comparable group of drivers with no history of DUI (controls) were tested following a 0.65 g/kg dose of alcohol and a placebo. Inhibitory control was measured by using a cued go/no-go task. Drivers then completed a driving simulation task that yielded multiple indicators of driving performance, such as within-lane deviation, steering rate, centerline crossings and road edge excursions, and drive speed.
Results showed that although DUI offenders self-reported greater levels of impulsivity than did controls, no group differences were observed in the degree to which alcohol impaired inhibitory control and driving performance. The findings point to the need to identify other aspects of behavioral dysfunction underlying the self-reported impulsivity among DUI offenders, and to better understand the specific driving situations that might pose greater risk to DUI offenders.
The systematic study of candidate cognitive deficits in DUI offenders will provide important information on their role in risky driving behavior and decisions to drink and drive. Such information is critical for guiding new interventions for DUI offenders that will move treatment beyond general addiction counseling.
Alcohol-impaired driving behavior and sensation-seeking disposition in a college population receiving routine care at campus health services centers
2009, Accident Analysis and Prevention
Accidents stemming from alcohol-impaired driving are the leading cause of injury and death among college students. Research has implicated certain driver personality characteristics in the majority of these motor vehicle crashes. Sensation seeking in particular has been linked to risky driving, alcohol consumption, and driving while intoxicated. This study investigated the effect of sensation seeking on self-reported alcohol-impaired driving behavior in a college student population while adjusting for demographics, residence and drinking locations. A total of 1587 college students over the age of 18 completed a health screening survey while presenting for routine, non-urgent care at campus heath services centers. Student demographics, living situation, most common drinking location, heavy episodic drinking, sensation-seeking disposition and alcohol-impaired driving behavior were assessed. Using a full-form logistic regression model to isolate sensation seeking after adjusting for covariates, sensation seeking remains a statistically significant independent predictor of alcohol-impaired driving behavior (OR = 1.52; CI = 1.19–1.94; p < 0.001). Older, white, sensation-seeking college students who engage in heavy episodic drinking, live off-campus, and go to bars are at highest risk for alcohol-impaired driving behaviors. Interventions should target sensation seekers and environmental factors that mediate the link between sensation seeking and alcohol-impaired driving behaviors.
Criminal and alcohol problems among Swedish drunk drivers - Predictors of DUI relapse
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The prevalence and types of crime offences, as well as predictors of relapse, among drivers suspected of driving under influence (DUI) were investigated. A total of 1830 Swedish DUI drivers responded to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test — AUDIT. Information about previous DUI offences, other traffic offences along with other types of criminal offences was taken from a crime register. A total criminality (including all traffic offences) of 64% in the period of five years before investigation was analyzed. 40% of the sample had other criminality besides traffic violations during that period. 14.3% of the drivers relapsed to DUI in the two-year period after the investigation. In terms of DUI relapse, the following factors were the main predictors: previous traffic violations, previous DUI offences, previous other criminality (frauds or other acts of dishonesty) and detection hours between 12.00 and 19.00. Detection in general traffic controls and high BAC (blood alcohol concentration) when detected were the strongest factors with negative correlation to DUI re-offence.
Differentiating between sensation seeking and impulsivity through their mediated relations with alcohol use and problems
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Disinhibition is a strong correlate of alcohol use, yet limited alcohol research has examined the facets of this personality construct. Recent work suggests that sensation seeking and impulsivity show differential relations with alcohol outcomes, indicating unique mechanisms of risks associated with each of these dimensions of disinhibition. The goal of the study was to examine sensation seeking and impulsivity as unique predictors of alcohol use and problems, and to test a broad range of drinking motives as potential mediators of these relations. Self-reported data from college students (N = 310) were utilized for the study. Results suggested that sensation seeking and impulsivity were associated with alcohol use and problems through different mediational pathways. There was some evidence for gender moderating these pathways.
The findings indicate that alcohol prevention and intervention programs should be tailored to specifically target individuals elevated on impulsivity versus sensation seeking.
Characteristics of DUI recidivists: A 12-year follow-up study of first time DUI offenders
2007, Addictive Behaviors
Citation Excerpt :
In the current study, it is possible that given the obvious nature of the MAST and the significant validity differences found on the MMPI-2, that this accounts for why significant results were not obtained between the non-recidivists and the recidivists on the clinical scales of the MMPI-2. So, while it appears more definitive that DUI offenders differ significantly from non-offenders on various measures of psychopathology (e.g. Cavaiola et al., 2003; McMillen, Adams, et al., 1992; McMillen, Pang, et al., 1992) those differences between non-recidivist DUI offenders and recidivist offenders are more ambiguous. Perhaps Perrine (1990) best summarized these findings by noting that “most first offenders are problem drinkers who have simply not yet been caught for their second DUI offense.”
77 individuals convicted of a drinking and driving (DUI) offense were screened for recidivism approximately 12 years following their first offense. At the time of the initial DUI conviction, participants were administered the MAST and the MMPI-2. Participants' drinking history and driving history and arrest at the time of screening and at a 12-year follow-up were also reviewed. The results indicate that, among DUI recidivists, on average 6 years elapsed between their first and second DUI offenses. Driving history prior to the first DUI offense was predictive of later recidivism. The only significant finding from the MAST and MMPI results was that repeat offenders tended to have higher scores on the L and K validity scales of the MMPI. These results are discussed in the context of Jessor's Problem-Behavior Theory and as well their clinical implications for screening and treatment decisions involving first time DUI offenders.

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Alcohol, personality traits, and high risk driving: A comparison of young, drinking driver groups

Abstract

Accident Analysis and Prevention

Accident Analysis and Prevention

Addictive Behaviors

Accident Analysis and Prevention Journal

Accident Analysis and Prevention

A typological analysis of California DUI offenders and DUI recidivism correlates

An inventory for assessing different kinds of hositility

Journal of Consulting Psychology

Personality subtypes among driving-while-intoxicated offenders: Relationship to drinking behavior and driving risk

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Drinking behavior, personality factors, and high-risk driving: A review and theoretical formulation

Journal of Studies on Alcohol

Risky driving and adolescent problem behavior: An extension of Problem Behavior Theory

Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving