By Katelyn Fry
September 26, 2017

One of the most highly-anticipated moments of a teenager’s life is getting their driver’s license - and with that privilege comes great responsibility. The CDC states that "teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations." In fact, the CDC reports that one-in-ten high school teens drink and drive.

While their parents are likely informing their teens about the responsibilities of safe driving, a Savvy Auntie often has a strong influence on a teen niece's or nephew's behavior. Here are three things to remind new drivers about:

Alcohol Consumption Is Mind-Altering

Teens may not understand how alcohol affects them. They may feel OK to drive, but not realize how it impairs judgment. According to ScienceNetLinks.com, alcohol consumption can slow your reaction time, blur your vision, hinder your ability to judge your own speed and that of other cars, decrease concentration, hurt your ability to make rational decisions and reduce coordination skills.

The U.S. Has Zero Tolerance

In the U.S., the legal blood alcohol concentration level for a driver over the age of 21 is .08%. If your underage niece or nephew has even just one drink and pulled over by the police, they can face a number of consequences ranging from a suspended license until they’re 21, a several thousand dollar fine, and juvenile detention.

Fatal Consequences

According to the CDC, drivers ages 16-20 are seventeen times more likely to die in a crash after drinking alcohol than when they haven’t. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s records indicate that underage drunk driving is responsible for 10% of drunk driving fatalities in the United States. Remind your nieces and nephews that if they drink and drive, they are not only putting themselves at risk, but any passengers they may have in the car and every other person on the road.  

Talk to your teen nieces and nephews about the dangers of drinking and driving and reassure them that you, and their parents, are a phone call away to help make sure they get home safely - as are cabs, Uber and other driver apps. If they, or whomever they are driving with, has been drinking, driving is not a smart choice.

Photo: Lopolo