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ANNEX C: TOPIC GUIDE - DEPTH INTERVIEWS - OVER THE LIMIT DRIVERS
Research introduction
- Moderator and research introduction, explain nature of research: Here to explore attitudes of drivers in Scotland to drinking alcohol and driving.
- Discussion guidelines:
- No right or wrong answers; only personal opinions matter
- Views and feelings may change throughout the discussion - that's fine
- Emphasise that no one is here to judge anyone; what is important is they give honest views and opinions
- TNS an independent research agency, so please feel free to be very honest about thoughts
- All comments made are strictly confidential and will not be attributed to individuals ( MRS code of conduct)
- Turn off mobile phone
- Taped for internal analysis purposes only
- Session will last around an hour
Respondent introduction
Who they are; (where they live); occupation; main use of car; main social activity Probe Any changes in drinking patterns in recent years - where / when / how much
Drinking and driving
- How much of an issue is drinking alcohol and driving nowadays?
- Have people's attitudes towards drinking and driving changed in the last couple of years? In what way? Amongst whom? Do more people have a drink and drive? Do fewer? Source of impressions
- Are drivers becoming more or less resistant in their attitudes towards drinking and driving? Is this reflected in their behaviour? Are some people becoming blasé about drinking and driving nowadays? Explore who and possible reasons
- Any differences between having a drink and being under the limit, as opposed to over? Any changes in attitudes and behaviour in this context
- Have your views on drinking and driving changed over time? How have they changed? What led to the change?
Motivations and attitudes towards drinking and driving
- What is your own situation with having something alcoholic to drink and then driving not long afterwards. Happens often or not.
- Explore circumstances in which have a drink and then drive later on:
- Types of occasion / when / where / with whom
- Whether usually pre-planned or not
- Reasons for having a drink at all then / attractions / motivations
- Amount might have to drink / extent to which moderate or not
- Any social occasions, similar or otherwise, when have the car and might decide not to have an alcoholic drink. Explore types of occasion and circumstances which might make a difference - day, time, location, who with etc
- Generally, how feel about having a drink and then driving. Are there any issues or concerns about this. Explore
- How many drinks consider safe to have and then drive later? 1, 2, or more? What is the 'safe amount' based on / how do we judge what is the safe amount?
- How much consider too much? What is this limit dependent on? Probe: Experience of driver, circumstances driving (road conditions, daylight, hazards), when had the drink, how far need to drive, how strong the drink, passenger?
Driving when over the limit
- Ever driven when probably shouldn't have in relation to legal limit?
- Describe circumstances. Had you expected to drive? Why did you decide to drive? How did you feel about it, at the time and later on?
- Have you ever felt pressurised to drive when you didn't want to?
- Have you ever been in a car with someone else who had been drinking and possibly over the limit? How did you feel about that? How did they come to be driving? Did you talk to them about it?
- How common is it for people to drive when they are over the limit?
- What kinds of people do you think are most likely to do it?
- Why do you think they do it? What might be done to stop them doing it?
- Why might you decide not to drive after drinking (more than your personal limit)? What kinds of things affect the way you feel about it?
Risks, consequences and deterrents
- Ever feel that there is an element of risk in driving after having a drink. Explore
- What are the possible risks / issues connected to drinking alcohol and driving? ( Record on cards / flip chart)
- To what extent feel each of these are issues for self in approach to having a drink and then driving
- Rank in order of perceived severity / which would concern most
- How much would these risks dissuade from drinking alcohol and then driving? Whether ever weigh up before deciding to drive or not
- What happens if fail the breathalyser. What are the consequences in terms of penalties. Ever vary?
- Police are proposing to breathalyse every driver stopped for a moving traffic offence eg even for having a defective brake light. Is this something new or not? How feel about this. Any effect on own attitudes/behaviour with regard to having a drink then driving?
Proposition exercise
Moderator goes through propositions one at a time, asking respondents to sort them into 2 groups - those they agree with and those they disagree with.
- Explore reasons for sorting and positioning of various statements generally
- Discuss each individually in terms of personal relevance to own situation / behaviour / attitudes to having a drink and then driving
- What is the risk of getting stopped and breathalysed.
Final exercise
Invite respondent to close their eyes and imagine they have been stopped by the police after having a couple of drinks, but believing they were safe to drive. They have been breathalysed and the police have just told them that they have failed. Take a few minutes to think about themselves in this situation. How do they feel? What is going through their mind? What effect is this going to have on their life and lifestyle? What is worrying them most at this time? Who are they going to tell, and how will they react to this?
Summing up
- How feel about the evening's discussion. Anything affected own attitudes towards having a drink and driving? What, and in what way.
Thank and close
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