Perception du risque d'accident lié à l'alcool chez des jeunes automobilistes : quelques déterminants de l'optimisme comparatif

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RÉSUMÉ On examine les évaluations comparatives de 86 jeunes automobilistes quant à leur risque d’être impliqués dans un accident alors qu’ils ont un taux d’alcoolémie supérieur à celui qui est toléré en tenant compte des variables (contrôle subjectif comparatif, capacité perçue à conduire en ayant dépassé le taux légal d’alcool, expérience directe et indirecte de l’accident, et évaluation de l’alcool au volant comme cause d’accident). Les participants prennent connaissance d’un scénario qui présente une situation dans laquelle ils auraient consommé de l’alcool et doivent ensuite rentrer à leur domicile en voiture. Après quoi, on leur demande de répondre à une série de questions relatives aux variables ci-dessus. On observe que plus les participants estiment avoir davantage de contrôle qu’autrui face à l’alcool au volant et plus ils manifestent d’optimisme comparatif dans cette situation. De plus, ceux qui ont une expérience directe d’accident dans cette situation et/ou ont été contrôlés positivement par la police lors d’un alcootest manifestent davantage d’optimisme comparatif que ceux qui n’ont jamais eu d’accident ou qui n’ont jamais été contrôlés dans cette situation. Enfin, plus le thème de l’alcool au volant est considéré comme étant fréquemment abordé par les campagnes de prévention, plus l’alcool au volant est considéré comme une cause fréquente d’accident, moins les participants manifestent de l’optimisme comparatif.

ALCOHOL-RELATED ACCIDENT RISK PERCEPTION BY YOUNG DRIVERS : SOME DETERMINANTS OF COMPARATIVE OPTIMISM This study aims to investigate the factors influencing alcohol-related accident risk perception. In particular, it examines the effects on comparative optimism (CO) of variables such as : comparative subjective control, perceived ability to drive after alcohol consumption, direct and indirect experience of accidents, and estimates of alcohol as the cause of road accidents. The participants (86 young drivers) were invited to read an alcohol consumption and driving scenario, and then answer a number of questions using a 7-point Likert scale. These related to the assessment of their own probability of becoming involved in an accident in such a situation in comparison with that of an average driver, their comparative feeling of control and probable behaviour in such a situation, their perception of alcohol consumption and driving, their accident history in such a situation either as a driver or as a passenger, and finally, their assessment of the frequency of alcohol as a theme of safety campaigns. We also examined those events which led participants to alter their driving behaviour following alcohol consumption. Results showed that comparative subjective control and CO were positively correlated. The more that participants assessed they had control over the situation in relation to others, the more they felt that they were able to drive in a drunken state and were less likely to become involved in an accident than others in the same situation. Moreover, participants who had already been involved in an accident in that situation exhibited more CO than those who had never experienced an accident in that same situation. Similarly, those people whose alcohol consumption was positively controlled felt that they were less at risk than others of having an accident related to alcohol consumption. In contrast, knowing close relatives who have had an accident in the same situation or whose alcohol consumption had been positively controlled did not affect participants’ CO. Furthermore, those participants who considered that alcohol consumption was a topic frequently tackled by road safety campaigns felt that alcohol was a frequent cause of accidents and tended to show less CO.