Teens Do Not Necessarily Believe Alcohol Makes Them Worse Drivers

It’s prom season, as KKCO News points out. That means that there will be plenty of teens on the roads, late at night, possibly driving under the influence. Apparently, U.S. Census Bureau data suggest that one in four teenage drivers admits to drinking and driving – which really has nothing to do with prom when you consider that drinking and driving can take place at any time.

This prompts one mother to say, as KKCO quotes: “I worry all the time. It’s no different that it’s party season or whatever; it’s a worry as a parent every time they get behind the wheel.” Given that so many young people are seriously injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents involving alcohol, it’s little wonder why parents worry.

The organization Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has found that some teens don’t necessarily think they’re doing anything wrong, or making a poor decision, by getting behind the wheel either drunk or high, going so far as thinking that alcohol or marijuana doesn’t make them worse drivers.

But, according to most cops you speak to, those teens would be wrong.

KKCO quotes a state trooper: “The problem we have is they don’t realize the dangers behind it, the crashes that it causes and the crashes that we cover on a day-to-day basis.”

In Arizona, a person charged with DUI after an accident not only faces criminal punishment, but personal injury liability as well, for the injuries (or worse) caused to someone else because of poor driving.

Source: 1 in 4 teens admits driving under the influence