NCJ Number
215583
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 36 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 59-72
Date Published
2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study explored the effectiveness of Fatal Vision Goggles (FVG) in reducing intentions to drink alcohol and drive.
Abstract
Overall, the results indicated that FVG was effective in reducing intentions to drink and drive. However, individual outcomes depended on driving personality, attitudes, and typical behaviors. Reductions in intentions to drink and drive were most pronounced among those who typically drank more during outings, among those who believed the likelihood of drinking and driving collisions was higher, and among those less likely to drive as a means of expressing their autonomy. Participants were 70 female and 38 male college students chosen from a participant pool of approximately 450 students. Participants completed questionnaires assessing driving personality and self efficacy and then completed field sobriety tests and a simulated driving task while wearing the FVG goggles. Following the FVG program, participants completed a post-measure of drinking and driving intentions. Multiple regression models were used to assess the predictors of change in intentions to drink and drive. Predictor variables under analysis included gender, amount of alcohol consumed on typical outings, perceived risk of a drinking and driving collision, perceived risk of getting caught by police, driving identity, and self efficacy. Future research on FVG effectiveness should include more objective measures of drinking and driving, such as police reports and insurance records that are collected at a certain point following the completion of FVG programs. FVG is a new prevention program that uses a set of goggles to simulate the visual and motor impairment associated with different ranges of intoxication, including spatial disorientation and loss of equilibrium. Participants wear the goggles and then perform a series of motor and balance tasks to illustrate the potential effects and risks associated with performing tasks such as driving while intoxicated. Table, references