Strategies To Reduce Drink Driving In Teenagers
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 20. Unfortunately, the cause of death is as a result of drinking and driving. Teenagers are at an age where trying to impress their peers is more important than anything else. They are too busy trying to fit in and look like they are mature, that issues of their safety take a back seat. It is important to ensure that the young people are educated about the dangers of consuming alcohol and getting behind the wheel.
Most teenagers who end up in the accidents usually think they are sober enough to drive. It is important for those around them to watch out and try to counsel the young people against engaging in the risky behavior. A driver never thinks that they are too drunk to drive, but it is a well-known fact that alcohol affects a person’s sense of judgment. Random breath tests should be carried out on the young people who have grown very adept at concealing the smell of alcohol.
There are different strategies that can be used to reduce the practice of drunk driving but the most important one is education. The young people need constant messages that inform them of the risks they take every time they try to drive after they have been drinking. It is important for parents to take the initiatives to monitor their children’s behavior.
It is not enough for parents to abdicate their duties and expect the traffic safety authorities, teachers or other parties to take on the full role of educating the teenagers. The parents themselves should play a major role. It is important to find out the drinks your child is consuming. Tighter measures should be put in place to ensure that the underage do not have access to alcoholic drinks.
It is also important to have strategic advertisements that are targeted at teenagers, telling them about the dangers of letting their friends drive while they are drunk. Teaching the teenagers to take responsibility for each other can be very helpful. They should learn that being a good and loyal friend means ensuring your friends are safe from drinking and driving.
Most parents feel like if they put too much control on their children’s activities, they will be interfering with their lives. Giving a child too much freedom because you think they will love you more is ignorance. Studies have shown that kids like boundaries and they do not respect parents who let them get away with anything. Parents should realize that by trying to be friends instead of parents, they might end up losing their children to drunk driving.
Stiffer fines and other punishments should be imposed on those who drink and drive. This can prove to be a deterrent to the teenagers. Any teenager who is caught driving while drunk should have their license revoked immediately. Rising the legal drinking age to 21 is a good move but it is not sufficient. Teenagers are still drinking and this is because they know they can get away with it. Measures should also be taken to impose fines on homeowners where parties serving alcohol to minors are held responsible legally.
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