The tragic stories of teens that are killed while driving under the influence occur far too often. Teen drivers with a blood alcohol content or BAC of 0.05 to 0.08 is more than fifteen times more likely to die in a one car collision than a teen that has not been driving while drinking. With even higher BAC’s, the risks are substantially greater that a fatality will occur.
The legal drinking age is 21, yet kids are drinking alcohol in high schools and colleges all across the country. Teens are not permitted to purchase or consumer alcoholic beverages when they are under 21, yet there are regular incidences of teens gathering at parties where alcohol is being served and consumed. There is a major crackdown on underage drinking in every state, so those caught can expect to be punished in some way.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, has worked vigilantly to fight against drunk driving. Increased awareness about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking have helped teens to think twice before getting behind the wheel when they have consumed illegal alcohol. Simply put, there is never an excuse for a teen to be drinking, let alone driving under the influence.
Teenagers who drink are not only putting their lives in danger, but also the lives of the fellow car passengers and those around them. Teens do not realize that their judgment is impaired and they are not able to handle the effects of alcohol at a young age. It is up to parents, law enforcement, and school administrators to inform teens that underage drinking is a serious crime.
*Photo courtesy of Gabriela Pinto via Creative Commons License