Underage Drunk Driving- Some FactsUnderage drunk driving is increasing in today's world. More and more teenagers are trying their hand at mixing drinking with driving. Individuals under the age of 21 represent 10 % of licensed drivers but are responsible for 17 % of fatal alcohol related accidents. Underage people tend to indulge in all such bad activities. Many of them do it out of curiosity, under the influence of peer-pressure or just in order to prove something to either themselves or to others. In fact, out of all the alcohol related road accidents a huge proportion is that of accidents involving youths. These underage people get the inspiration for mixing drink with driving from their family members, other relatives and similar examples seen around in the society. They always try to imitate their actions. At the same time, they don't know the harmful effects of drunk driving. They are also unaware of the laws and rules prevailing in their city or state regarding drunk driving. Hence, it should be the responsibility of their parents and other members of the society to supply them with essential information about the consequences of drunk driving.
Let us have a look at some of the facts related to the underage drunk driving. These are as follows: * Underage drunk driving is the cause of one fourth of all motor vehicle accidents. * Three teenagers are killed daily when they are indulging in drunk driving. Also, 6 more die daily because of the other alcohol related reasons. * According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,002 young individuals aged 16-20 died in accidents related to motor vehicles in 2003. Alcohol was present in 38% of these deaths. * In the year 2003 the number of death of the young people involving a motor vehicle accident reaches up to 3,571. Out of them 1,131 had been drinking and 26% were legally drunk at the accident. * A survey in the year 2001 about the college students under the age of 21, found out that 26% used to drive after consuming alcohol and more than 10% drive after drinking more than 5 drinks. * In 2000, 7% of licensed drivers were between 15 to 20 years of age. But in the same year they represented 13% of drivers who used to drink and were involved in critical accidents. * The cost of accidents related to drinking comes around $53 billion annually and includes costs to society like medical costs and lost productivity. These are some facts regarding underage people involved in alcohol related road crashes. These facts indicate the needs for urgent steps to be taken by different states. The time has come to strictly enforce laws and rules to put some break on such dreadful figures. A lot of measures have already been taken by a majority of countries in the world. |