Montlick & Associates

Kids & Teens

Safety Tips

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Is drinking and driving really that dangerous?

YES! Some sobering statistics: The following statistics show how drinking and driving affects the safety of children:

  • In a 2001 survey, 30 percent of ninth graders reported having ridden in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol. Nearly 7 percent of ninth graders reported driving one or more times while drinking.
  • Nearly two-thirds of children 15 and younger who died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes were riding with the drinking driver. Fewer than 20% of the children killed were properly restrained at the time of the crash, and that restraint use decreased as the driver's blood alcohol concentration increased.
  • In 1998, 21% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of at least 0.10% (above the legal limit).
  • Among 12- to 17-year-old current drinkers, 31 percent had extreme levels of psychological distress, and 39 percent exhibited serious behavioral problems.

Remember, Be Smart, Be Safe!