What is the Percentage of Teenage Drunk Driving Accidents?
Getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking is not for the faint of heart. Teens tend to make rash decisions, especially when it comes to driving, and often end up in very dangerous situations. In many cases, teens who survive crashes suffer catastrophic injuries. Some can never become adults.
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Many factors contribute to teen drunk driving accidents. Aside from the obvious alcohol consumption, teens are often experimenting with drugs, driving under the influence, or engaging in other risky behaviors. A recent study found that the number of teenagers involved in car crashes is relatively high. 87,004 drivers ages 16 and 17 were on Pennsylvania roads in 2008.
According to the CDC, nearly one million teens drank and drove in 2011. These teens are also far more likely to engage in other risky behaviors. For example, a recent survey found that more than eight in ten teens are speeding, and more than one-third are letting shorter distances between vehicles. The CDC also found that young drivers are less likely to use seatbelts than older drivers.
Among teens, binge drinking is the most common beverage of choice. Of the teen drivers involved in fatal car crashes, 24% were drunk at the time of the accident. This statistic is more than double the rate of those who were not under the influence. However, teenagers are still young and their brains are not fully developed. The effects of alcohol are especially potent on a teen’s developing brain.
The CDC also found that teenage boys are more likely to drive under the influence than their female counterparts. Young male drivers were 1.5 times more likely to be in a crash than their female peers. In 2006, 18 percent of the fatally injured drivers in this age group had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. This isn’t a very good statistic, but it does demonstrate that teenage drivers are not as inexperienced as they may first appear.
Despite the aforementioned dangers, there are several steps that parents and teens can take to prevent teenage drunk driving. Specifically, they should develop an exit plan, avoid drinking and driving while under the influence, and have an emergency exit. Aside from alcohol, the best way to keep your teen safe is to teach them about the laws of the road and provide them with the tools and information they need to safely operate a vehicle. For instance, it’s illegal to carry alcohol while driving in most US states.
The CDC also found that a majority of teenagers involved in a crash were not wearing seat belts. More than half of all teen fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involve alcohol. While a teen’s BAC level is not a good indicator of their ability to drive, it is a sign that they are under the influence. In addition, it’s estimated that a teen’s BAC levels are more likely to rise after they have a few drinks.