The holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, is one of the deadliest times of the year due to impaired driving. The need to address impaired driving by young drivers is urgent; they report driving while under the influence more often than older drivers.
According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 12 percent of young drivers (ages 16-25) drove under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, while 10 percent of the older group did so.
If you are a parent or caregiver, please talk to your youth about safe driving practices which is particularly important when there are celebrations with family and friends that involve alcohol. Studies have shown parents and caregivers who talk to their children about the consequences of underage drinking have a lasting impact. For more information about how to start the conversation about underage drinking prevention visit stopalcoholabuse. gov or contact KCee Scoggins at kcee.scoggins@okstate.edu.