The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that 1 in 10 teenagers admits to driving drunk in the last year and more than half of those admit to having done so more than once.
Boca Raton car accident attorneys understand the risks teens face behind the wheel. In addition to drunk driving, teenagers are at increased risk of speeding, aggressive driving, not wearing their seat belt, distracted driving and driving with too many passengers in the vehicle.
The risks associated with drunk driving cannot be overstated. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that someone is killed in a drunk driving accident every 45 minutes in this country. In 2009, alcohol was involved in 35 percent of Florida's fatal accident, contributing to the deaths of 904 motorists.
"Drunk drivers put everyone on the road in danger," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. Exploring new technologies, such as interlocking devices, are important to ensuring public safety in conjunction with personal responsibility and law enforcement."
The study found near-universal support for requiring those convicted of a repeat DUI offense to use ignition interlock devices, which test a driver's breath for the presence of alcohol and will not permit a car to start if alcohol is detected. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans support mandating the devices for all DUI offenders, including those convicted of violating the state's drunk driving laws for the first time.
AAA offers a pledge to avoid drunk driving, available here.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a South Florida car accident, contact the Hollander Law Firm for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Fort Myers: (239) 337-7070. Boca Raton: (561) 347-7770. Naples: (239) 774-7779.
