How Many High School Students Die From Drunk Driving?
Many parents are worried about the safety of their teenagers. They know that alcohol is a common cause of car crashes, but they do not know how many teens die or get hurt after drinking and driving. It’s important to raise awareness about this dangerous practice and avoid getting into cars with drunk drivers.
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The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey asked about alcohol and driving. It revealed that, on average, teens drive and drink at least 2 million times per month. Using the CDC’s statistics, it’s estimated that more than a third of high school students are involved in a drunk-driving-related crash every year.
There are many reasons why a teen is at risk for driving under the influence. For one, alcohol impairs a driver’s decision-making and reaction time, which can increase the chances of a crash. Another reason is that teens have limited tolerance for alcohol. Teens who have had a drink are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, like speeding or getting into a car with a drunk driver. Teenage drunk driving is the leading killer of adolescents in the United States.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks traffic accidents, including those that involve a drunk driver. Almost a third of all drivers involved in fatal crashes are drunk. Those who are intoxicated are seven times more likely to be in a fatal crash than sober drivers. Similarly, a third of the drivers in a drunk-driving-related accidents are not wearing a seatbelt.
According to the CDC, the biggest risk for young adults is that they are more likely to drink than other age groups. High school and college-aged students are particularly at risk, as alcohol is readily available. Also, teens are typically inexperienced drivers. This, combined with peer pressure, can lead to an increased rate of drinking and driving.
One of the best ways to prevent a teen from getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol is to keep them off the road altogether. You should also put together an emergency exit plan. If a teen is drunk, a ride-sharing app such as Uber or Lyft could prove beneficial.
Drunk driving is not only a risk to themselves but to their friends and family. The cost of a drunk-driving-related death is estimated at $44 billion annually. And, if your teen is involved in an alcohol-related crash, you may be able to sue for damages. Some states even have legal protections for victims of teen drunk-driving-related deaths.
The NHTSA has tracked drunk-driving-related statistics since 1982. While the number of drunk-driving-related deaths has decreased, the number of drunk-driving-related accidents has increased. A study released in 2018 indicates that, on a national basis, the rate of fatal motor vehicle crashes with a BAC of.08 or higher declined by 68%. However, the actual number of alcohol-impaired driving-related deaths remained unchanged. These figures are not surprising; there are a lot of people getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.