CDC Report Shows Drop in Teen Drunk Driving, Although Still Common

November 27, 2012

Family members of those who die in fatal Florida car accidents tragically suffer through periods of grief and sorrow following these horrific car collisions. But, these feelings of sadness can often turn to rage when the family discovers that the accident could have been easily avoided if the other motorist involved in the accident had simply refrained from drinking and driving.

Those who choose to drink before getting behind the wheel needlessly put everyone else on the road at risk of injury due to drunk driving accidents. To curb this epidemic, many believe it is important to educate new motorists of the dangers of drunk driving in order to make the roads safer - and according to a recent report, teen drivers may be finally getting this message.

CDC Teen Drunk Driving Survey

According to a recently published report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of teens aged 16 and above who drink and drive dropped from 22.3 percent in 1991 to 10.3 percent in 2011 - representing a 54 percent decline.

CBS News reported that researchers theorized that some of the decrease may be attributed to increased enforcement of drinking laws and graduated driver's license programs - similar to the one in effect in Florida.

However, another reason posited for the drop is that teens are just driving less today than in 1991. For example, the report indicated that the number of high school seniors who didn't drive during an average week was only 15 percent in 1991, but jumped up to 22 percent in 2011.

But, even with the decrease in teen drunk driving overall, the CDC report is quick to note that the more can be done to deal with this deadly problem. For instance, even with this recent drop, nearly one million teens still got behind the wheel after drinking alcohol in 2011.

Even more astounding, according to the report, is the fact that of the teens who admitted to drinking of driving in the past 30 days, roughly 85 percent claimed to have engaged in binge drinking - which is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting. And, one in five teens involved in fatal car accidents in 2010 had at least some alcohol in their system, with 81 percent of those having blood alcohol levels higher than adult legal limits.

Unfortunately, as the report indicates, much still needs to be done to curb teen drunk driving. These avoidable accidents not only cause needless injury and property damage but also pointless loss of life. If you have been injured by a thoughtless drunk driver, it is important to protect your rights. With that in mind, it is vital to contact an experienced drunk driving accident attorney to be advised of all the options available to you.

Article provided by Babbitt, Johnson, Osborne & Le Clainche, P.A.
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