Underage

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Dr nd
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D Patience Wall
03/07/11
 WARNING
The PowerPoint you are about to view is aimed
at engaging its audience. It will present its
information in a casual yet appropriate matter.
Its purpose is to send an important message to a
teenage audience. Thus, there will be car
accident images. Its effect, in the hopes of its
creator, is to encourage Underage Drinking and
Driving Prevention. Therefore, this presentation
will be captivating and unlike any other. Thank
You.
 Confronting the Problem
The issue of underage drinking and driving is basically self-descriptive.
It deals with people who are underage who choose to drive under the influence.
The problem arises with the consequences of this offense.

A Few Facts to Introduce the Audience to the Problem

FirstEagle.com says…
•“In a single year, 522 children under age 14 were arrested for driving while intoxicated,
(113 of them were under 10 years old).”
•“70 percent of all teenagers drink alcohol.”
•“60 percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol-related.”

In Addition to this material, Alcohol Alert reports…

“Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking;
this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide,
as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings (1–5).”

If underage drinking and driving is so

dangerous, why does our youth continue to
pursue this path, and what can we do to stop it?
Our journey to answer this burning question
begins in the teenage mind?
 Into
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We can all reminisce back to the typically messy the
veh
ic le a
teenage room. Well, coincidently, sometimes t al
l tim
the typical teenage mind can be the same way, es.
as cluttered as the images on this page.

Teens are constantly bombarded with a

rainstorm of tasks. Here comes the projects,
the homework, the sports, the after-school
jobs…. The list goes on. On top of this growing
pile of chores lies the pressure to maintain an
ever-changing social life. We want to have
friends, to go a few parties, and to feel like we
belong all while we are finding “where” we
belong. Therefore, it is easy to understand
that teenagers sometimes feel the need to
escape, but is intoxication really the way?
Why It’s So Easy????

It’s not really a matter we have to scratch our heads about.

Teenagers, as well as, small children and adults are exposed to
the unrelenting flow of bad influences from the media.
How many commercials or videos have we seen that do not
incorporate relaxing and having a good time with alcohol or
some new prescription? There is no question where teenagers
are getting this idea.

Here, you are, a teenager in a society that belabors upon

the cool guy in the Bud Light commercial and raves over
the singer who drinks Grey Goose? Some of your friends
are experimenting with alcohol, and you have been having
some curiosity of your own for a while. You think, “why
not try something that will lighten things up?”
 LIMITATIONS

LIMITATIONS
LIMITATIONS
You’re becoming a young adult. This growth comes with
freedoms and limitations. You can stay out later, but there’s a
curfew. You just got your license, but you must obey an entire list of highway
rules including a speed limit. It is natural for us, as humans, to seek out freedom.
This makes rebellion very common in teen development.

Rules are made because of risks. Scientific studies claim that as teenagers go through adolescence their
desire to engage in risky behavior heightens. They are pushed by impulsiveness to engage in activities that
would seem dangerous to an adult, activities like driving under the influence. Some studies say that we develop this
invincibility complex in our teenage years when we are reaching the prime of our physical abilities. This may
help explain why teenagers seem unfazed when it comes to the risks of drunk driving. To some teens, not being allowed
to drive while under the influence is just another feasible limitation; however, every rule and limitation was made because of a risk,
and one cannot break a rule without looking at the risk factor and effects of his/her decision.

LIMITATIONS
The Complicated Decision
To drive drunk or not to drive drunk? That is the question.
You don’t need to recall a
Shakespearean quote to say “No” to a
decision that can affect you for a
lifetime. The decision to be a safe driver
is not as complicated as you may think it
is.

No matter what you do or where you go, there is always that other 1%.
There will always be the grand tale of this girl or guy that “heroically” drank
down a full case of beer and miraculously drove home without a single complication.

This is what I like to call the “Superwoman” or “Hercules” story. How many real life
Superwomen and Herculeses' do you know? You probably don’t that many. The point is
believe in the other 99% and don’t drink and drive.
I hope your not planning on driving
to the beach this summer.
Being convicted of a DWI can have
you without a driver’s license for a
year. They can and will suspend.
Consequences
Some of you may be wondering, why the
cop smiley face? It is the mistaken
assumption of most teenagers that they can
get away
with drinking and driving as long as their
BAC(Blood Alcohol Concentration) is
below 0.08. This must be right. NOOO! This
BAC limit is only applied to those who are 21
and up. If a teenager is caught with any
alcohol in their system, they can and, in
most cases, will be arrested.
Keep in mind that a DWI is a criminal
conviction. It goes on your record.
There has also been talk of some
colleges unaccepting students
because of this crime.
Is it just a rumor?
I wouldn’t take my chances.
Suppose you do get in an accident
under the influence, and the
driver in the opposite vehicle dies.
You could very well be charged with
homicide.
Handcuffs aren’t a good fashion
statement for anyone, and I would
prefer taking over a cell phone
sitting in my room than talking into
a cord phone looking through a
glass window.
 Oh! It was only 11 injuries.
Let’s keep in mind that some injuries
are not temporarily fixed with
Neosporin and a Band-Aid.
Being framed as a murderer
Some injuries can last a lifetime
doesn’t do much for one’s
You can’t put a Band-Aid on a
conscience, so try to avoid
severed limb.
a situation that could give you
that title.
Others Can Face Your You are a person, not the Grim
Reaper.
Consequences
You are not the only person on
the road. Therefore,
when you drink and drive you not
only put yourself at risk but
others, too.

Do you remember when you were five and you broke

your mom’s favorite lamp? Your mom probably
fixed it with superglue. Well, permanently injuring someone
is different than that. There’s no “I’m sorry” that can fix an injury or
“Redo” button to push. The market does not make superglue for broken lives
 Making the Right Decision
The Insurance Institute For Highway
Safety says..

“The per capita death rate of fatally injured 16-

20 year-old passenger vehicle drivers with a
positive BAC declined by 54 percent between
1982 and 1995, and a smaller decline was seen
between 1995 and 2008 (31 percent).”

Continue Making the Right Choice

We have seen the numbers go down,
but we want to continue to see them drop.
Your decisions make all the difference, so make
the right one. Say no to drinking, and say no to
driving while doing it.
The Solution When you come across moments when you are
stressed or feeling down, you don’t always have
to reach for the car keys or turn to the bottle.

If it’s school work that is stressing you out, try

cutting out some of your academic activities to
make room for extracurricular ones. You can even
pick up a new non-scholastic activity like painting or
sewing. Hobbies are a great way to get away.

You say things are getting

heavy. Taking a trip to the
park or just relaxing with
your family can be fun. Yes,
even parents can be cool
sometimes.
Instead of taking a drive, why not take a
walk with the family pet? I’m sure Bingo
would love to spend some time with
you!

Many people find exercise to be a good way

to take the edge off.
Endorphins can work wonders.
 Stop and Prevent
Do you remember Smokey the Bear? When we were younger, Smokey would say “Only
you can prevent forest fires.” As we age, there is no Smokey to guide you; however, the
slogan is basically the same; “Only you” can prevent drunk driving. You can take a vow
not to engage in underage drinking and driving. You can also promote this lifestyle
among your peers.

Organizations like SADD(Students Against Destructive Decisions) and

MADD(Mothers Against Drunk Driving) promote the prevention of
driving under the influence and spreading its awareness. While MADD
focuses primarily on DUI, SADD offers many other help and awareness
services for teens. If you are interested in supporting the cause, check
your school and community to join a local chapter.
The Statistics

• In 2008, an estimated 12.4% of persons ages 12 or

older drove under the influence of alcohol at least
once during the past year.

• In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-impaired

driving crashes, accounting for nearly one third (32%)
of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

• Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among

today’s teenagers.  Nearly three quarters of students
(72%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few
sips) by the end of high school, and more than a third
(37%) have done so by eighth grade.
 According to Webster…

Merriam-Webster.com says a weapon is “ something (as a

club, knife, or gun) used to injure, defeat, or destroy.
Although Merriam-Webster only provides a few examples,
its definition allows for anything that destroys or causes
injuries to be a weapon. This can range from a pencil to a
moving vehicle, if used improperly.
 Look On. Take It All In.
I Promise They Won’t Bite.

Yes. That is the front half of a car.

One Small Decision. One Big Effect.

 The New Slogan

Don’t L
et Your Ca
r Become
Your M
os t Deadli
est Wea
pon

Drive Responsibly.
 Works Cited
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