Teens may be able to drive legally at age 16, but they should, theoretically, never get in drunk driving accidents, since they cannot drink for five more years.
Of course, the reality is that underage drinking happens all the time, both in high school and in college. It’s very dangerous for other drivers, since teen drivers already lack experience and pose a serious risk on the highway. When you add alcohol into that mix, it is a recipe for disaster.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are around 2.4 million incidents of high school students driving their vehicles while intoxicated, and that’s on a monthly basis. That means there are nearly 30 million high school students who drive drunk every single year, all across the United States.
It’s a staggering number. And that’s just high school, not even looking at underage drinking and driving in college.
It leads to accidents. Reports claim that the risk of a deadly accident increases by 17 percent for teens who have been drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that deadly wrecks involving people between 16 years old and 20 years old are only becoming more common every year. Over one third of these accidents can be traced back to alcohol use.
It is important for other drivers to understand the risks that they face. Underage drinking is no joke. These car accidents, even when they do not take lives, can lead to serious and life-altering injuries. It is important for those involved to know all of the legal options they have to seek financial compensation.
Source: Scram Systems, “The Sobering Statistics of Underage Drunk Driving,” accessed May 04, 2018