Last week we wrote a post about underage drinking and driving. Though it is an uncommon charge, it is still a crime that warrants serious attention because the teens who commit this crime could have their futures ruined forever. Thankfully, a new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that drunk driving by teenagers is on the decline.
In 2014, nearly 7 percent of teenagers said they had driven under the influence of alcohol. Compared to twelve years earlier, when the figure was 16 percent, that rate marks a steep decline. People in their early 20s have admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol more frequently than teens, however even for that age group the behavior is declining.
While this is great news, we have to realize that drunk driving is still going to happen, and younger people will naturally be curious and rebellious. That doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it is the reality. Teens and young adults are consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel of motor vehicles.
Obviously, this is dangerous, and hopefully we can collectively educate these younger people and help them avoid such behavior. But if they do act on this impulse and get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of alcohol, then they will be in need of legal assistance. The penalties associated with a DUI could derail the prospects of a young individual before they are ever realized.
Source: The Denver Channel, “Fewer teens are driving drunk, national survey says,” Associated Press, Dec. 10, 2015