Surprisingly the number one killer of youth in the U.S is not cancer, STDs, or even suicide. Car accidents kill more youth than any other cause of death, and car accidents are more likely to occur when drivers get behind the wheel drunk. Everyone has experienced a car accident or its aftermath at least once in their lifetime, and they know how horrible a car crash can really be; especially when a life is lost.
Teens and young adults abuse alcohol more than any other drug available, and when they decide to drive while under the influence it can only make matters worse. Adults are more likely to drive drunk than teens, however, teens are more likely to cause an accident. Teens and young adults under the age of 21 should not be drinking at all, but if they just so happen to drink they should not drive. In instances when teens do drink, there are many ways to avoid having to drive, such as; calling a friend, calling a taxi, or doing the most mature and responsible of all, call their parents. Generally parents do not want their children to drink, but they also do not want their children dead; so parents would be willing to forgive, if you show them that you are mature enough to recognize your mistakes. There have been many aims at reducing the use of alcohol among teens and young adults, the age to purchase alcohol was lowered to eigh teen, but then raised to twenty-one again. Since the age to purchase alcohol has raised the amount of fatal car accidents caused by drinking have lowered. Although alcohol is high ly abused within the young community there is no reason as to why teens should drink and drive.
When a teen decides to drive drunk, not only are they putting their own lives in danger but they are also putting others around them at risk, whether it be their friends, or innocent by-standers. There are many instances in which a drunk teen as killed their friends in the same car, or another driver in a different car. There was an accident reported, where a drunk driver going over 60mph hit a car with a family in it straight on, killing six people; only the drunk driver and one year old baby survived. For the remainder of his life the driver will live with the guilt of leaving a one year old baby without a family. In another instance, a mom was on her way to work when a twenty-one year old drunk driver going 30mph over the speed limit hit her, the mom was killed on impact, and another family was ruined. The reality is that when a young adult drinks and gets behind the wheel of a two thousand pound motor vehicle, the results could only be devastating.
The needs to fit in, to look cool, and peer-pressure, are only a few of the many reasons teens decide to drink. The media, and other outlets portray drinking as a “cool” thing to do, yet not many sources show the reality, and the actual dangers of drunk driving. In order to persuade the youth of this time to not drink, it must be put into terms that they can understand, or relate to. The advertising industry is one of the most successful in getting people to buy into a product or idea. With the use of celebrity endorsements, and testimonials, teens can understand the significance of driving drunk. In order to prevent drunk driving, it must be put into terms that young adults can understand.
Drunk driving and all of its negative connotations are reason enough to prevent teens from driving under the influence. The amount of accidents caused by teens and young adults driving under the influence is incredible! With so many ways to avoid drinking and driving it is amazing that it still occurs, it must be a lack of maturity. Teens must understand that driving while drunk not only puts them but others at risk too.
