“Bro, cut it out,” I said. Charlie gave me that stupid grin and I knew I shouldn’t have stepped into his car. But it was past curfew and I didn’t have another ride home. I regretted it immediately as he sped through the “S” curves in the dark showing off his parents’ sports car. I started to panic when he turned into the long straightaway of our town reservation and accelerated. I yelled for him to stop, so he slammed on the breaks into a long skid that left tire marks he admired in drunken pride.
That night never left me. One false move could have spelled disaster. Since then, I’ve been far more cautious about who to accept a ride from and started thinking about what more can be done to prevent other kids from being in my predicament that night.
I know education is key. We learn the dangers of drunk driving in school, but honestly it only goes so far. The lessons, films and horror stories can be powerful, and they give kids pause in the moment. We at least know the laws and, on a theoretical level, the dangers and some solutions. But these lessons don’t always translate to what kids do out late on Saturday night. Many nights, nobody wants to be the designated driver.
Frankly, parenting is a far bigger influence on new teen drivers than education. Parents must model responsible behavior and never get behind the wheel after drinking, even a little bit. Nothing sets a kid up for failure more than the slippery slope of a parent who says “oh, I just had a couple of drinks, I’m fine” when driving. Drawing the line between “just a little” and an illegal and irresponsible amount of alcohol is difficult for anyone, especially after a few drinks. Do you really want your teen making that distinction? Parents must also be vigilant about imposing their own consequences on new drivers. Any indication of drinking and driving, even if below the legal limit, should be met with strong punishment before a habit takes hold. Parents can also sign the CDC Parent-Teen Driving Agreement with their teen and require them to join a SADD chapter to use the family car.
Us teens are in an even better position than parents to help their friends make better decisions. Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, in his book Changing Minds, argues that by about age 10 a child’s peers assume primary importance in decision-making, rather than his or her parents. If that’s the case, it becomes far more important for teen drivers to lead by example in following safe habits when driving their friends. We must also speak up when a friend suggests driving under the influence, like I wish I had done that night with Charlie. Similarly, the decision to join a SADD chapter would be far more impactful coming from a friend than a parent. Teens can also make a difference simply by sharing messages on social media that remind friends and family not to make the deadly choice to drink and drive.
But more must be done. Better and easier choices that are readily available, inexpensive, and non-judgmental would save lives. Encouraging use of Uber and other rideshare apps after a party is a good alternative, but for teens paying for rides adds up quickly and such rides might not be 100% safe (especially when traveling alone). Public transportation is another good option but, again, it’s only safe traveling in a group and it’s not available everywhere. It might be helpful to extend bus service where it doesn’t exist and ensure buses operate later into the weekend nights.
New technology can also help. Apps exist that detect blood alcohol levels to help kids make smarter decisions about their ability to drive. Maybe a wearable device can vibrate or turn a color when the wearer has had too many drinks. Perhaps car manufacturers can incorporate similar technology into their vehicles, preventing them from starting if the driver is drunk.
Another idea is for a local church or community association, or even a student-run high school club, to offer free rides to kids on weekends. Imagine having a number to call for a free and safe ride with no questions asked. Even better if that ride is provided by a peer rather than a parent or other adult. I think it could happen by having high schoolers volunteer one night per month (or more) to work as either dispatchers (if an underclassman) or drivers (if a senior). All volunteers would earn community service hours and could add a worthwhile cause to their college applications.
Ultimately, we’ll need a combination of these approaches working together to best reduce drunk driving. There are many Charlies among us. By appealing to “the better angels of their nature” through education, better parenting, being a good friend, and promoting novel and existing programs to curb drunk driving, we can all make a difference in changing behavior. The life that’s saved may be your own.