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Published VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A systematic review on the factors associated with the accuracy of self-estimated alcohol intoxication: Implications for drink driving
Journal of Safety Research, Vol.94, pp.425-435
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Introduction: Drink driving is a dangerous behavior associated with significant road trauma. The ability to estimate one’s alcohol plays an important role in the decision to drink and drive. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding what factors are associated with the accuracy of self-estimated blood and breath alcohol concentrations (BAC/BrAC) and discuss relevant implications for drink driving. Method: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, a literature search was conducted on four databases, followed by a manual search using Google Scholar. The identified studies (N = 999) were then screened by two researchers using predetermined eligibility criteria. Studies were eligible for review if they were quantitative by design, contained both subjective and objective measures of alcohol intoxication (BAC/BrAC), and investigated at least one factor that influenced the accuracy of BAC/BrAC estimations. Following screening, data from 22 original research articles were extracted and synthesized. Results: The review identified several potential factors that may influence the accuracy of BAC/BrAC estimations. Notably, younger age, heavy alcohol use, and greater alcohol intoxication were found to be potentially associated with BAC/BrAC estimation inaccuracy and a tendency to underestimate BAC/BrAC. However, there were also many conflicting findings between the studies, which were attributed to a lack of standardization in the methodology and potential sampling biases. Practical Applications: The findings of this review and any subsequent research hold significant implications for informing future initiatives aimed at improving public safety and reducing alcohol-related harm. However, further empirical research with standardized and robust methodology is needed to clarify the role that both known and novel factors play in the accurate estimation of alcohol intoxication and subsequent drink driving behavior.
Details
- Title
- A systematic review on the factors associated with the accuracy of self-estimated alcohol intoxication: Implications for drink driving
- Authors
- Steven Love (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research CollaborationGregoire S. Larue - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Road Safety Research Collaboration
- Publication details
- Journal of Safety Research, Vol.94, pp.425-435
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jsr.2025.08.005
- ISSN
- 1879-1247; 0022-4375
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).
- Grant note
- This study was funded by a grant between the Queensland Motor Accident Insurance Commission and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
- Organisation Unit
- Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991155635202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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InCites Highlights
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- Web Of Science research areas
- Ergonomics
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
- Transportation