Alcohol-related behaviours and the risk of causing road accidents: a study of drivers after licence disqualification

Introduction
Driving under the influence of alcohol remains a serious public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic and behavioural variables, alcohol consumption and the risk of traffic accidents among drivers.

Material and methods
A total of 249 participants aged 18 to 65 were included in the study. Two groups were compared: a re-education group (drivers referred for re-education following licence suspension for drink-driving) and a control group (drivers undergoing standard psychological assessments). Data was collected using the Alcohol Problems Map Questionnaire (MPA-13). Statistical analyses included linear and logistic regression and the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results
Drivers in the re-education group more frequently reported risky behaviours like drinking alcohol to alleviate emotional pain, selling their possessions to buy alcohol and driving under the influence. Significant correlations were found between high alcohol consumption and the incidence of injury while intoxicated. Regression analyses confirmed that behavioural variables (e.g., workplace absences, aggression after drinking) and higher mileage were significant predictors of causing a traffic accident.

Discussion
The findings support the need for more personalised and psychologically informed preventive interventions. Current re-education programmes may be insufficient to reduce risky alcohol-related behaviours among drivers.

Conclusions
Educational programmes (e.g., re- education courses for drivers charged with drink-driving) and psychological diagnostic assessments (evaluating risk-prone alcohol use, impulsivity and risk awareness) should be conducted more frequently in a more in-depth manner and tailored to drivers’ individual characteristics, like motivation, drinking history, age or life circumstances, in order to effectively reduce accident rates and improve road safety.