Driving Under the Influence: Why Teenage Drivers Are More Likely to Drink and Drive

Driving under the influence (DUI), also known as driving while intoxicated (DWI), is a dangerous act that impairs a driver’s senses and judgment. Teenagers are statistically more likely than older drivers to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Understanding why this risky behavior occurs can help prevent future DUIs.

Teenage Brains Are Still Developing

The human brain continues developing into a person’s mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for planning and decision making. In teens, it takes longer to mature. Teen brains also have more neural connections, allowing new experiences to strongly impact them. These factors lead to increased impulsivity and risk-taking compared to adult drivers. A teenager is biologically primed to make quick, emotion-based choices without considering long-term effects – like driving after a few drinks.

Peer Pressure and Social Acceptance

Fitting in with friends becomes very important in the teenage years. If underage drinking or drunk driving seems “cool” to a teen’s social group, peer pressure could lead them to make unsafe choices. A 2020 study revealed that teens think their close friends are more likely to view DUIs as acceptable. Teens may get the impression drunk driving is normal and non-consequential within their social bubble. The perceived social rewards outweigh the legal or safety risks in an adolescent brain.

Lack of DUI Education and Experience

Simply put, teen drivers have spent less time on the road than adult drivers. They have less experience judging how alcohol impacts their driving ability. Teens may genuinely believe they can drive safely after a few drinks using concentration tactics like driving slower. Adolescents are also less likely to have first-hand or educational knowledge of DUI dangers compared to older generations. Graphic DUI statistics and simulations showing alcohol’s physical effects could provide sorely needed perspective.

Access and Opportunity

Unlike legal-aged drivers, teenagers cannot purchase alcohol themselves. However, they often obtain it through parents’ supplies or friends. With access farther out of sight, teens may feel drinking and driving occurrences go unnoticed by authority figures. If they are caught, some adolescents think the consequences will be mild since they are under 18. In reality, teenage DUIs carry the same penalties as legal adult drivers face. Once behind the wheel, the opportunity and privacy of driving alone also could enable intoxicated choices away from parents’ watchful eyes.

Understanding why teenagers engage in drunk driving at higher rates than legal-aged drivers creates pathways for prevention. Brain development, social pressures, lack of perspective and experience, and greater opportunity all contribute to the problem. Implementing better DUI education targeted at adolescents could help steer their decision-making. Alcohol detection systems and ignition interlocks connected to a breathalyzer unit are useful tools, too. More awareness, training, and modeling of safe behaviors from parents are also essential for keeping teen drivers safe from poor choices.

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a teenage driver, get in touch with us today. You can visit our offices at the locations below:

• Westerville – 4151 Executive Pkwy, Suite 355, Westerville, OH 43081
• Mansfield – 33 S. Lexington-Springmill Rd, Mansfield, OH 44906

Call now for a free consultation on (614) 224-4114.