Adolescence/Teen-Impaired Driving

Teen-impaired driving poses a threat to youth and others around them. This constitutes a serious, nation-wide problem where lives are either injured or lost when youth mix alcohol or marijuana with driving. Injuries and deaths from teen-impaired driving are preventable. Ultimately, there are a myriad of ways to become involved in the campaign against teen-impaired driving.

Marijuana
Due to its mind-altering effects, the use of marijuana can impair short-term memory, coordination, and concentration. It can influence people’s judgment and decision-making abilities. Because marijuana may result in addiction, a rising concern is gaining accessibility to this substance. Results from the Missouri Student Survey indicate 37.9% of teenagers claim they have easy access to marijuana, and 11.4% of teenagers believe marijuana contains no risks.

Alcohol
Concerning alcohol, 59.2% of teenagers in Missouri believe it is relatively easy to obtain alcohol, and 51.1% of teenagers have friends who currently drink. By interfering with the brain’s communication pathways, alcohol impairs one’s ability to think clearly, and it may change one’s mood and behavior drastically. Taken altogether, alcohol may impair both brain functions and motor skills—which are needed to drive safely.

Injuries
Injuries from traffic accidents can be caused by anyone, but studies show that young drivers, motorcyclists, and impaired drivers are mostly at risk. 1 in 10 teenagers indicated they have driven under the influence of alcohol, and in 2010, 1 in 5 teen drivers were in deadly car accidents from alcohol impairment. To combat these statistics, multiple solutions have been created to reduce teen-impaired driving. These solutions include laws, regulations, graduated driver licensing systems, and parental involvement.