Teen Drinking And Driving

To any one paying attention these days it comes as no surprise that Nashville teenagers have no trouble getting their hands on alcoholic beverages. Fake identification, adults willing to buy and stores willing to sell to youth they know are not 21 are at the heart of the problem.

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety takes an interesting look at teen driving fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed and  more than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes. Young people ages 15-24 represent only 14% of the U.S. population. However, they account for 30% ($19 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% ($7 billion) of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.

What can be done to further reduce teenage drinking and driving? States and communities need to make it more difficult for teenagers to purchase alcohol. This experienced Nashville automobile accident has seen the carnage caused by teen drivers under the influence and I’m, quit frankly, sick and tired of the carnage.

I suggest two things that will work. The first is to be relentless and shut down stores that don’t follow the law. Towns and cities can simply revoke the merchants license to sell anything. The second, and most effective, is to educate the teens on the zero-tolerance rules and make it clear to them that if they are caught driving under the influence, which, for our purposes should .04, they will lose their drivers license until they reach the age of 22. If we don’t play hardball, and play it now,  we are just going to soon be burying our children on a daily basis.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Nashville automobile accident caused by a drunken teen driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller and Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Please excuse me if I have been focused on teen drivers, or more specifically, teen driving fatalities lately but as an experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyer I am aware that this time of year seems to be the beginning of the season of death for our youngsters. I have been thinking a lot lately about teen drinking and driving. I’ve discussed here many times the sad fact that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, accounting for more than one in three deaths in this age group.

The basic reasons behind this statistic are obvious, teen drivers have no experience with the myriad issues faced by drivers with experience, furthermore, they are immature and often takes risks, most often speeding, and are easily distracted which contribute to the increased death rate. Couple these factors with alcohol use and the picture is way more uncomfortable.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services children become curious and some try drinking as early as 9 years old. Before age 9, children typically view drinking negatively. Between the ages of 9 and 13, they start to view alcohol more positively. Children at this age become more aware of the drinking behavior of their parents and other adults.

Conversation is often more effective before children start drinking. They often start asking questions about alcohol. The reason most children choose not to drink is because their parents talked to them about it.  When you talk to them directly and honestly, they are more likely to respect your rules and advice about alcohol use. Children who start drinking at a young age are more likely to have problems with alcohol later in life.

Children who begin drinking before age 15 are seven times more likely to abuse alcohol or to have alcohol problems as adults. By starting a conversation about alcohol early, you can stop them from making a decision that could potentially harm their health and future. The chances that children will use alcohol increases as they get older.

Studies report that around 10% of 12-year-olds say they’ve tried alcohol, but by age 15 that number jumps to 50%. The sooner you talk to your child about alcohol, the greater chance you have of impacting his or her decisions about drinking. If you don’t talk about it, you’re saying something. What you say to your child about alcohol use is up to you. But remember, if you don’t say anything to your child about drinking, you might give the impression that underage drinking is acceptable.

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I strongly suggest that you create your action plan. Personalize a plan for talking to your child about alcohol. Visit my web site at Phillip Miller & Associates or www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov/why-talk-early.aspx to get information about how to approach this task.

Texting While Driving

As an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer I have come to dread one of the downsides of the Spring season. No, it’s not the pollen and the allergies, the April showers that bring May flowers, it’s the rash of fatal automobile accidents that involve teen drivers. Prom weekends begin the season of death.

This year the Tennessee Department of Safety joins the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, National Organizations for Youth Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Association, and Students Against Destructive Decisions to promote National Youth Traffic Safety Month. To kick off the month, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) encourages students to pledge not to drink and drive or text and drive.

“You can have a good time and do it in a smart way,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Prom, graduation and the beginning of summer are times to celebrate, but don’t let a good time be the last time; pledge not to drink and drive. Not only is it the law, the consequences can be deadly.”

In 2008, 19 people were killed in Tennessee in 18 fatal crashes involving drivers (age 13-19) who had been drinking. A national survey of 11th and 12th grade students finds 90 percent believe their peers are more likely to drink and drive on prom night, but few think that the behavior carries a high degree of risk. The Department of Safety encourages Tennessee youth to join the campaign and speak up for alcohol and drug free proms.

“Texting or talking on cell phones while driving is dangerous to the driver and all those on the roadway around them,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker. “Teens must understand that texting and talking on the phone while driving is against the law and every time a driver takes his or her eyes or focus off the road, even for just a few seconds, they put their lives and the lives of others in danger.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving kills nearly 6,000 Americans a year.

In Tennessee, TCA 55-50-311 stipulates: “Any driver possessing a learner permit or intermediate driver license is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on any highway while using a handheld cellular telephone.” The teen driver is subject to a $50 fine and a 90 day delay in eligibility for an intermediate restricted or intermediate unrestricted driver license.  TCA 55-8-19 stipulates that texting while driving and reading a text while driving are against the law for all drivers. The driver is subject to a $50 fine. Since January 3, THP Troopers have issued 51 citations for texting while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of fatalities among teens in the United States. Nationally, teen drivers (ages 13-19) are at a four times greater risk for crashes than older adults and are involved in 15 percent of fatal crashes, but make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver you owe it to yourself and your family to consult with an experienced Tennessee car crash lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. Take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.