Talk to Your Teen about DUI and Driving Safety

October 18th-24th is National Teen Driver Safety Week, a campaign created by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The campaign is titled “5 TO DRIVE” and encourages parents to take the time to talk to their teenagers about 5 dangers of driving of which includes; driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, texting, speeding, seat belts, and extra passengers.

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Remember, “5 to Drive” – Set the Rules Before They Hit the Road.

  1.  No Cell Phones While Driving
  2. No Extra Passengers
  3. No Speeding
  4. No Alcohol
  5. No Driving or Riding Without a Seat Belt

The NHTSA states that, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the US. In fact, in 2013, there were 2,614 teen (15-19 year old) passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes and an estimated 130,000 were injured. Yet, a recent survey shows that only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of driving.”

Parents, it’s an easy conversation to have with your kids, and very necessary!  It is very likely that teenagers have no idea of the consequences they could face if they do not follow the 5 TO DRIVE rules.

For instance; if a teenager or any individual under the age of 21 has ANY alcohol and they choose to drive, they could be arrested and charged with DUI.  In all 50 states a ZERO TOLERANCE policy is in place for minors, meaning a minor cannot consume any amount of alcohol and drive, not even a sip.  If a teenager/minor is charged with DUI and their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was between .02-.07  the could face 0-90 days in jail, $0-$1,000 fine, required installation of an ignition interlock device for 1 year, and their license would be suspended for 90 days.  If their BAC level was .08 or above it would be considered an adult DUI and they would face steeper consequences if found guilty.

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Parents remember to take a few minutes to help keep your teenagers safe, tell them about safe driving,  5 TO DRIVE.  Also talk to your teen about DUI, not only about driving under the influence of alcohol but also being under the influences of drugs such as marijuana.  If you have any questions about teenage DUI of alcohol or drugs, visit the NHTSA website or call David O Defense attorneys at 206-459-6392 for legal help.