What American Teenagers Think About Driving Under Influence

Even though the dangers of drunk driving are pretty obvious, DUI is still one of the most common traffic violations in the United States and it's one of the leading causes of car accidents, along with speeding and distracted driving. The issue of drinking and driving is especially present among the younger population, with teenagers not being aware of the risks that are involved in driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. This is despite the fact that alcohol related car accidents are the leading cause of death for young drivers, between the age of 16 and 19. What's even more alarming, is that many teen drivers believe that alcohol makes them better drivers, which is pretty absurd.

A recent survey conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), showed some pretty astonishing results, revealing that a lot of teens tend to drive while under the influence. As much as 23 percent of teen drivers who were surveyed, admitted to driving under the influence. Perhaps the most surprising finding is that of those who admit it, about 20 percent think that they drive better when they are under the influence of alcohol, and 34 percent of them think that the use of marijuana improves their driving abilities. While it is true that people who drive under the influence of marijuana tend to drive more slowly and carefully, paying more attention to traffic signs and speed limits, this doesn't mean that driving under the influence of marijuana is encouraged, and it's highly unlikely that teenagers use marijuana so that it can make them better and safer drivers.

These numbers show that teenagers basically don't care about traffic safety, and they blatantly choose to disregard DUI laws, that are quite strict and impose severe punishments for everyone who brakes them. But still, most teenagers, 91 percent of them, think that they are safe drivers, an opinion that is not backed by any scientific, or any other type of evidence.

One of the conclusions that this survey leads to is that messages in media that promote safe driving and explain the risks of driving under the influence are being disregarded by teens, and they don't have an effect. This is where parents have to take over, and do everything they can to prevent their kids from drinking and driving. They have to talk to them about the risks of DUI and make them realize that they are jeopardizing their own lives and the lives of others whenever they are driving while intoxicated.