The personal and societal costs associated with impaired driving are staggering. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 20. In fact, youth between 15 and 20 are killed in traffic crashes at twice the rate of the general population. Alcohol is involved in over 35 percent of these crashes (NHTSA 1999). While this picture may be discouraging, it is important to keep in mind that significant progress has been made, especially among young drivers. In fact, the largest decrease in impaired driving deaths in the last 20 years has been among drivers 15 to 20 years old. In large part, this progress has been due to better laws and more vigorous enforcement. This guide will provide an overview of some of the laws and enforcement techniques that can serve as valuable tools in preventing and deterring underage drinking and driving and in apprehending young drinking drivers before they can harm themselves or others. It will also discuss some of the very real barriers to enforcement and possible techniques for overcoming these barriers. (A)
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