Teenage Drinking and Driving

Alcohol is the most used drug among teenagers all around the world. This happens taking into consideration the fact that drinking is forbidden under 18 or 21, in most countries. Some teenagers mainly drink at parties with friends. For others this is an everyday activity which can lead to serious drinking problems later on.

Both categories are at risk when it comes to driving. Roadside surveys indicate that the crash rates are much higher than those of other age groups, in condition of drinking and driving. Take a look to some statistics about teenage drinking and driving:

• Teen drinking and driving is the number one death cause for this age category;
• Boys first try alcohol when they are 11 years old;
• Girls first try alcohol when they are 13 years old;
• 70 percent of all teenagers drink alcohol;
• 60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related;
• 55 percent of all teen motor vehicular deaths occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thirty-five percent occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.;
• 4000 teenagers are killed every year;
• Another 85,000 teenagers are injured by driving drunk, as passengers or as innocent bystanders;
• Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with a drunk driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs.

What happens when you drive drunk

Driving is a multiple task activity, which requires permanent attention and adjustment to the traffic situation in order to make correct decisions. The presence of alcohol in the body can seriously affect those functions and lead to fatal road accidents. When you drive impaired, you may experience the following:

• You are less likely to observe traffic signs, bikers, pedestrians or cars coming from the opposite side;
• You have less control on your reactions in traffic situations; your eyes are slower and they remain focused longer on the same object;
• Alcohol narrows your space perspective; you tend to focus more straightforward then to look to the right or left;
• Reaction time increases and your reflexes diminish; it takes you more time to correctly respond to traffic stimuli;
• You will find it more difficult to drive in a straight line;
• You are less able to judge distances and speed;
• You have a tendency to be overconfident and put yourself in danger.

Drunk Teenagers – an at risk population for road accidents

Youthful age has been cited as one of the most important variables related to crash risk. Young drivers are inexperienced not only in driving but also in drinking — and in combining the two activities. They are considered to face a higher risk in driving drunk and having road accidents because:

• They didn’t have their drivers license for a long time, and they often want to impress their friends;
• They are less able to detect traffic hazards;
• They have less control over the car and less able to adjust speed;
• They use seatbelts less often;
• They mix alcohol with other drugs which can impair their driving abilities;
• The peer pressure can be great and younger drivers may try to conform to dangerous rules;
• They drive a lot in the night which is more difficult and requires special attention;
• They have the tendency to underestimate the danger of driving drunk and to overestimate their driving skills.

Resources

Breathalyzers.net – distributes several different hand-held models, including the highly regarded AlcoMate Digital hand-held unit for consumers, and the Lifeloc FC for professional use. Give your teens the opportunity to test themselves so the men in blue don’t have to.