Exploring the predictors and experiences of hangover driving in young adults

• Two studies explored young adults’ experiences of driving with a hangover. • Some young adults adjust their driving while having a hangover. • Reasons for hangover driving included having a short drive and lower perceived risk. • Hangover driving was predicted by some demographic variables and hangover history. • Findings provide insight into potential ways to reduce hangover driving. Aims: Driving with a hangover can have significant impacts on driving ability. It has been identified that young adults experience more frequent and severe hangover symptoms compared to older adults. Given young adults have less driving experience, this may present a concern for road safety if this group of drivers engage in hangover driving. The paper involved two studies exploring young adults’ experiences with hangover driving. Methods and Results: In Study 1, 23 young adults (ranging 18–23 years; 52% female) were interviewed. Following template analyses, two themes were identified. The first theme (awareness and strategies) identified young adults understand the impacts of hangover driving on their concentration and attention, yet the risks associated with hangover driving were rarely described. The second theme (justification) identified the reasoning young adults described for hangover driving, such as they had to get home, it was only a short drive, and the behavior is not as risky as drink driving. In Study 2, 252 young adults (ranging 18–25 years; 75% female) were surveyed. Regression results revealed being male, living in non-metropolitan locations, holding an open license, experiencing hangover symptoms yearly, and having one or more hangovers in the previous month increased the likelihood of hangover driving. Conclusions: Findings provide insight into young adults’ hangover driving, yet further understanding may be required to identify ways to discourage this behavior. Practical Applications: Findings have provided directions for further research, with the aim of identifying potential ways to prevent hangover driving among young adults.