Teen drinking has dropped more than 54% over the last two decades. The issue is that still over 1 million teens still ended up behind a wheel after drinking, according to a new study.
Out of those who did drink and drive in 2010, 1 in 5 fatal accidents were a result of a drunk driver. Also, over 80 percent of those who were arrested for a dui, were over the legal adult limit according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Binge drinking, which was defined as having at least five alcoholic drinks within a few hours, was reported by 85 percent of high school teens who noted drinking and driving in the past month.
"We are moving in the right direction," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the CDC director. "But we must keep up the momentum," because 1 in 10 high school teens drinks and drives each month, endangering themselves and others.
For the report, CDC researchers analyzed data gathered during the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys between 1991 and 2011. In these national surveys, high school students were asked if they had driven a vehicle after drinking alcohol at least during the previous 30 days.
Drinking and driving was reported to be higher among males instead of females, in which the majority of those drinking and driving were over the age of 18.
Parents' efforts to get involved in their teens' lives can help keep them safe, according to the report. Parents can model safe-driving behavior and use tools such as parent-teen driving agreements.
Research has also shown that laws establishing a minimum legal drinking age, zero-tolerance laws and a graduated driver-licensing system can protect teen drivers.
As a Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer, there are many examples where drinking and driving have come into a situation. The outcome of the situations never ends well. The statistics though optimistic, are still too high considering that those drinking are still under the legal age to drink in the first place.
We all see the campaigns that are put into stopping horrible accidents from occuring, yet people still do not learn. Hopefully we keep making big strides in eliminating drinking and driving even more than it has been diminished already.
Drive safe everyone!
