Teenage drinking and driving has unfortunately lead to many cases of serious automobile accidents that cause thousands of deaths and serious injuries each year. Parents and teens can both work to prevent these types of accidents by learning about teenage drinking and driving and how to prevent your teen or friends from drinking and driving or riding with a drunk driver. Keep reading to find out more about teenage drinking and driving statistics and how to encourage your teen to stay safe.
Teenage drinking and driving statistics:
While many of these numbers are preventable, teenage drinking and driving still remains the cause of thousands of car accidents each year.
- According to drunk driving statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were about 12,998 drinking and driving related fatalities in the United States in 2007. Out of that number about 1,393 were a result of teenage drinking and driving.
- These same teenage drinking and driving statistics revealed that about 28 percent of teens that are killed in motor vehicle accidents were either drinking prior to driving or were drinking while driving.
- These startling statistics show that about 40 percent of the drinking and driving related deaths are a result of drunk teens.
- Car accidents are found to be the number one killer of teens from age 15 to 20.
Teenage drinking and driving prevention:
When it comes to the role parents can play in ensuring the safety of their teen, it is a vital one. Some things parents can do to stop or prevent teenage drinking and driving include:
- Stress the importance of not drinking and driving to your teen. Explain the risk factors and how alcohol works to inhibit reaction times and driving perception, which can easily result in accidents that can kill themselves or others. Be honest with your teen and let them know how much you love them and don’t want them to get hurt or be involved in hurting others.
- Set rules about teenage drinking and driving. Make sure your teen knows they are not allowed drink and especially not allowed to drink alcohol while or before driving. Make sure your teen knows the consequences of what happens if these rule are broken, including rescinded driving privileges and more.
- Make sure your teen knows they can always call you for a ride if they can’t find a safe ride home. Talk to them about making sure they avoid getting rides with friends if their friends have been drinking.
- Encourage your teen to have fun without the use of alcohol. Set a good example for your teen and never drink and drive.
It is vital for parents to follow these rules and establish boundaries for their child in order to prevent teenage drinking and driving. About 71 percent of teens are less likely to engage in dangerous behaviors like drinking and driving when they have parents who talk to them about the dangers of drinking and driving and the consequences for disobeying the rules.
Sources: buzzle.com, firsteagle.com
