On average, it is estimated that more than 3,000 teenagers die every year as a result of injuries obtained during vehicular accidents attributed to driving under the influence. Why does this occur? Oftentimes, teens pressure each other into drinking and driving. Responsible parents would not allow their children to drink at home, so teens resort to drinking in neighborhood hangouts and parties. Inexperienced with alcohol, they consume more than they should and intoxicate themselves before driving home

Alcohol is the most abused drug among teenagers. Nearly 70% of teenagers at one point or another have consumed an alcoholic beverage, whether it is a beer, glass of wine, or hard liquor. It is also one of the easiest to obtain. Nearly every supermarket in the country carries one kind of alcoholic beverage. While it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages to minors, there are irresponsible people who do just so.

Who are the most dangerous drivers? Apparently, 18 year olds have the highest crash rate in the nation. Teenagers feel like they are indestructable. Mix that with alcohol and they make up ingredients for disaster. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number one cause of death among 15-20 year olds is car accidents. Twenty-eight percent of teens killed in car accidents had been consuming alcohol while driving an automobile. It does not take super intelligence to know that teen drinking and driving accidents are very serious and often result in fatalities.

While the blood alcohol limit on most states is between .08 - .10, this does not apply to teenagers. Many, if not all, states have zero-tolerance laws when it comes to teen drivers. This means that if a teen is caught driving with any percentage of alcohol in his or her blood, he or she will be placed in police custody and charged with DUI.

Issues and topics related to Teen Drunk Driving:

• DUI/DWI
• Alcohol Dependency
• Blood Alcohol Content
• Sobriety Tests
• Public Intoxication
• Vehicular Homicide