Drivers under the age of 25 report the highest rates of drunk driving and experience the highest fatal crash risk. Yet between 1979 and 1985 in the USA fatal daytime and fatal night-time crashes involving teenagers declined 36% and 40%. among drivers aged 21-25 those declines were 21% and 25%. over all ages, the declines were 22% and 24%. several approaches have been used to reduce fatal crashes involving young intoxicated drivers. To reduce teenage access to alcohol, 43 states now have legal drinking ages of 21, as opposed to 14 states in 1979. Increased taxes on alcohol may further restrict their access to alcohol. To restrict access to driving, some states have driving ages set higher than 16 years of age and 18 states have night driving curfews for teens. To separate drinking from driving, over 400 drinking and driving laws were passed in the us between 1976 and 1985. Though many sought to deter drunken driving at all ages, because that behaviour is more common among young drivers, those laws may benefit younger drivers most. Thirty-five states now revoke or suspend the licenses of drunken driving offences under the legal age. Because young drunken drivers speed disproportionately more often, do not wear seat-belts, and drive older cars in poor repair, mandatory seat-belt laws, increased speeding restrictions and improved safety standards for vehicles and highway construction may all help reduce fatal crashes among young drivers. (A)
Samenvatting