| It's a hard pill to swallow, but the number one killer of | | | | parents talk to them about alcohol use are far less |
| teens in the United States is motor vehicle crashes. | | | | likely to drink than teens whose parents do not talk |
| The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | about the issue with them. |
| (NHTSA) has reported that motor vehicle crashes are | | | | Many people have proposed that state legislatures |
| the leading cause of deaths in young adults between | | | | should pass graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws. |
| the ages of 15 to 20 years. In the United States, 1 in 4 | | | | These laws include establishing longer periods of |
| crash fatalities involve a person 16 to 24 years old, | | | | supervised driving for teens, establishing limits on driving |
| nearly twice as high as other age groups. Another | | | | after dark, and prohibiting cell phone use while driving. In |
| terrifying stastistic is that 12.8% of all fatal traffic | | | | the state of California you have to use a hands-free |
| crashes were alcohol-related...and of that number, 40% | | | | device while talking on the phone, but even that can be |
| of those crashes were teens driving while under the | | | | distracting. |
| influence alcohol. | | | | The bottom line is that it's up to parents and the |
| One of the best ways to prevent drunk driving in | | | | community-at-large to become more involved in |
| teens is to have conversations with them about the | | | | making sure the message is spread. Educating teens |
| tragic consequences of drunk driving and the | | | | about the dangers of drunk driving should be a priority |
| importance of thinking before getting behind the wheel | | | | for everyone. |
| of a car. Studies have shown that teens whose | | | | |