Bystanding to prevent drink-driving: Young adults' descriptions of factors that promote and restrict their behavior.

INTRODUCTION: Drink driving remains a leading contributor to motor-vehicle fatalities. For young adults, a sizeable proportion of their drinking is with friends, who may have opportunity to plan ahead or potentially intervene and speak up against drink-driving. We sought to explore young adults' preventive behaviors toward friends and the potential relevance for the classic Latané and Darley social psychology theory of bystander intervention.

METHOD: Across two studies we interviewed 63, 18-25-year-old Australians, using semi-structured interview schedules (approximately 30-45 min). Study 1 focused on experiences and perception of driving the day after drinking; and study 2 explored online communication about drink-driving. Exploration in both studies considered strategies used to support friends and prevent drink-driving. We used a deductive theory-guided approach considering: perceptions and interpretation of risk/ danger around drink-driving, a sense of responsibility, and having the confidence to enact a prevention strategy with friends. In addition, an inductive approach was employed to explore descriptions of protective behavior.

RESULTS: The bystander theory provided an appropriate conceptualization with findings highlighting consideration of noticing and interpreting drink-driving as harmful. Findings highlighted that young adults value looking out for their friends and to a lesser extent described considerations of the challenges they had in supporting their friends.

CONCLUSIONS: The descriptions provided by young adults highlight nuance and considerations made in attempts to reduce the likelihood of drink-driving. The theory provided structure to findings and highlights potential considerations in attempts to promote bystander intervention among young adults.