How Do Teen Drivers Define "Driving Under the Influence?"

New Survey Finds Surprising Results Regarding Teens' Driving Habits

Just before high school prom season, a recently released survey highlights the inability of some teens to define what it means to be "under the influence" while behind the wheel.

The survey commissioned by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) analyzed the responses of over 2,500 11th and 12th-graders from around the country and 1,000 of their parents. The teens' responses indicate that while teens know they shouldn't drink and drive, they may be unable to tell when their driving abilities are considered to be impaired by alcohol.

The survey found that one in 10 teens who say they "never" drive under the influence acknowledged that they "occasionally" drive after having an alcoholic beverage. Additionally, 68% of teens who admit to driving under the influence of alcohol say they "rarely" drive after drinking "more than three" alcoholic beverages.

The survey also revealed that teens' definition of a "designated driver" may be flawed as well. The parents involved in the survey reported that "a designated driver is a person who remains 100 percent sober—zero tolerance." However, the majority of teens defined a "designated driver" as a person who's "basically sober," or the "most sober of the group." Teens' misunderstanding of these terms may lead to dangerous driving practices in the future.

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