A recent study shows that teenagers are more likely to drink and drive on New Year’s Eve than on any other holiday. The study also showed that peers can influence their friends not to drink while under the influence. Even so, parents should talk to their teens about the dangers of driving drunk.
A study was done by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD. The acronym “SADD” stands for “Students Against Destructive Decisions”. It is a peer-to-peer youth education, prevention, and activism organization that is committed to empowering young people to lead initiatives in their schools and communities. Liberty Mutual Insurance is the eighth largest auto and home insurer in the United States.
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that New Year’s Eve is one of the worst days of the year for alcohol related car crashes, (and also for the death of young drivers). New data from a 2011 study done by SADD and Liberty Mutual Insurance revealed that while teens believe that New Year’s Eve is the most dangerous time of year to drive, it still is the holiday when teens most frequently drive drunk, or drive while under the influence of other drugs.
The study was done in the form of a survey that was given to almost 2,300 teenagers who were in the eleventh or twelfth grade of high school. It asked them questions about how dangerous they felt that certain situations are in terms of the likelihood that it would lead to drunk driving. The teens indicated that they felt that New Year’s Eve was the most dangerous.
Liberty Mutual Insurance has advice for parents of teenagers, that could help keep them safe this New Year’s Eve. It has a Parent / Teen contract that guides parents through how to have a discussion with their teenagers about how to drive safely and responsibly.
It also gives teenagers the opportunity to show their parents that they are committed to driving safely and responsibly. The contract is downloadable, and is good way to open up a conversation between parents and teens about drunk driving.
This year, AAA is offering a free program called “Tipsy Tow”. It is a complementary service that is available on New Year’s Eve. Drivers who have been drinking can call “Tipsy Tow” to get a free ride home.
The service will also tow your car, for free, for up to seven miles from the point of pickup. That way, you won’t have to abandon your car after having too much to drink. This is a good way to avoid the risk of getting behind the wheel after having an adult, or a teen, has been drinking on New Year’s Eve.
Image by Fredrik Rubensson on Flickr