Teenagers and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Teenage DUI is a major problem facing this country. Studies show that more and more teenagers are indulging in this potentially fatal behavior. In a survey, almost half of all teenage students admitted to driving after drinking, or drinking while driving a vehicle. There is immense peer pressure on teenagers to drink and use drugs. Ten percent of teenagers are drinking illegally at least once every month.
Driving a vehicle in a safe manner requires that the driver be alert to his surroundings. The driver should also be in a position to make decisions quickly. Consumption of alcohol and drugs lead to poor hand eye coordination, slows down response time, hampers proper judgment and distorts the vision. All these factors contribute to mishaps and fatalities. There has been an alarming increase in teenage DUI.
The most shocking statistic that depicts the enormity of this problem is that almost 30% of all teenage deaths in automobile crashes were due to Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI). More than half of these teenagers who died in car crashes had even forgotten to strap their seat belts after drinking. Teenage drinking form a major threat to the society as teenage DUI deaths form more than 40% of all alcohol related deaths in the US.
Teenage DUI is not only responsible for causing thousands of deaths, but it also has staggering effects on our economy, by causing damages of more than $40 billion each year. The majority of teenagers get involved in a DUI during evenings, nights, or weekends. A lot of teenagers are not properly trained as drivers and this increases the likelihood of an accident.
There are severe legal consequences of teenage DUI that can substantially damage the future life of a youngster. They are likely to face jail time, license suspension, fines, and court ordered alcohol treatment. If a teenager gets a DUI, the parents must immediately seek legal help by contacting a qualified DUI attorney in your area.
Parents can also take preventive steps by implementing some of the following:
1) Education about the serious consequences of Drinking and Driving.
2) Discussion between parents and their children.
3) Prevent teenage access to drugs and alcohol.
4) Limit access to vehicles if parents suspect drinking behavior among teenagers.
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