Be a Friend: Don’t Let Your Friends Drive Drunk

I was saddened to find out the results of a recent drunk driving survey for teen drivers. The survey, done by Liberty Mutual insurance, found that one in 10 young drivers got behind the wheel after drinking on New Year’s Eve last year.

However, some encouraging news did come out of the survey. Most teen drivers, 94 percent, said they would stop driving while drunk and pull over if they were asked to by a passenger. Additionally, 87 percent of young drivers said they would ask a friend to stop driving if they knew they had been drinking. These statistics are a positive indicator to teens that if you speak up and voice your concerns about a friends’ dangerous behavior, you will be heard.

As we begin the New Year, I encourage all teens to make the promise to speak up. You can be a good driver by making the decision to not drink and drive, and you can be a good passenger and friend by asking someone who’s been drinking to not get behind the wheel.

If you’re a high school senior, you can also enter my firm’s “Words to be Heard” Scholarship Contest. Tell us your idea for discouraging underage drinking and drunk driving or texting and driving for a chance to win up to $5,000 for college.

Don’t forget to sign our Safe & Sober Pledge (when you submit your information, you’ll be entered for a chance to win prizes). Every person who makes the decision to stay safe and sober helps lower drunk driving statistics.