More and more teenagers are continuing to gamble with their own and other people's lives by drink driving, a survey has revealed.

One in five drivers aged between 17 and 18 confessed to getting behind the wheel while over the limit - and one in 14 (7%) admitted driving under the influence of drugs.

Have you ever driven under the influence or been forced to take a lift with someone who was over the limit?

Or have you been involved in an accident which resulted from drink driving? Why, with greater awareness of the dangers, are teenagers still willing to take the risks behind the wheel?

Comments

[Jordon, Northampton Sep 21, 2007 6:56:08 PM]

They have been taught no boundaries, nobody has been there to say what is right and what is wrong. So when they can finally drink surely they can finally drink and drive? thats what they think anyway...

[G.KING SUSSEX Sep 18, 2007 12:02:00 PM]

zero tolerance for all drink drivers.5 years minimum also 5 years min for joyriders(deathriders)

[Sue B Sep 12, 2007 10:05:48 PM]

It is most certainly NOT just teenagers who drink and drive, but we have to remember that the younger age group will copy bad impressions made by supposedly older and wiser role models.

The problem here, is the availability of alcohol and the unresponsible way it is sold to anyone and everyone.
Whoever decided that 24 hour drinking was a good idea, also needs a good kick up the ass. What an asshole! All this has achieved is the fact that we now have drink fuelled violence, car crime etc anytime of the day or night. Just look around you and you will see for yourself.
Alcohol should be available only at licensed public houses that are open at certain times (like it used to be), not at corner shops, supermarkets etc.

The age limit for buying and consuming alcohol needs to be brought up to 21. As for drink driving, one drink or unit of alcohol is too many and a total zero tolerance must be enforced. Everybody has different tolerances to alcohol and while one person can drink two units of alcohol and not be affected, another may well have slower reactions etc.Anyone caught with alcohol in their bloodstream and driving needs a short sharp shock and that means a steep fine, imprisonment and a lifetime loss of licence.
Examples like this will soon get the message across and sort out the problem.

[paul Sep 4, 2007 6:43:26 PM]

again teenagers are the bad ones!!!. old people are the guilty party in this blog. the social club car park by me is packed on the w/ends with bingo and all that. i have walked in and do i see them drinking coke or someone driving for them. NO!! i do not. pint in hand, keys in the other. one guy was a bit worse for wear getting in his mobility car for god sake!!. THEY don't get stopped because they are supposed to be experienced drivers. teenagers are easy prey.

[cassandra b kentucky Sep 4, 2007 3:12:56 PM]

i like the first comment. yeah i've hit the curb while sober many times. some teenagers just don't know they're drunk when they are and think they can drive.

[Rab McDowell, Glenrothes Sep 4, 2007 1:17:49 PM]

I'm a teenager and regularly drink drive. I've only ever mounted the kerb a couple of times and did find the car once in the hedge the morning after as i left the handbrake off but anyone could have done that. I think the whole thing is blown out of proportion so I won't change my habits as it does not effect my ability to the extent that I present a danger. Look at all the old people driving who have lost about 90% of their brain cells. There a bigger risk than I'll ever be. Cheers your only young once.

[surfingbob Sep 2, 2007 8:14:29 PM]

youngsters drinking and driving ,i have 3 kids all over the drink drive limit ,they dont show any interest in drink at all. at home or in the pub.all the people i know who drink and drive are reps who have business lunches trying to get some work.

[vivienne newsome Sep 2, 2007 3:29:07 PM]

Young people drink and take drugs and then drive because they are immature, and by and large very poorly educated. They think everything is a joke and don't seem to have the imagination or skills to find something more interesting to do with their time. I also think that so many of them have very poor examples set for them by their parents.

I just feel pity for them, just think what they will be like when they are 60, if they live that long.

[Ian High Wycombe Sep 2, 2007 10:59:12 AM]

The reason is probably easier to understand than you think.
Teenagers reach 18 and they are legally allowed to do a number of things, that maybe they did before, but now, now no one can stop them.
So Drinking freely in the local pub is a new adventure for them to explore.
Driving whilst drunk is just a sign of their immaturity.
Also they probably are working and have more money to go out with, so they want to enjoy that as well.

So the answer is to follow others maybe.
USA - Driving at 17 but drinking 21
Could this be a way around the problem?
I believe that it is time that the government decide, what is important. They ban smoking in public buildings, but Alcahol is the cause behind a lot of youth crime and they do nothing.

[J Price Sep 1, 2007 2:41:40 PM]

Perhaps these “thick Mug’s” are also playing “Spot The Copper”. We do this in London all the time as we see no police on our street’s, apart from when they are nicking Legal drivers!.

[ema london Sep 1, 2007 2:59:59 AM]

why is this titled why do teens continue to drink and drive

it should be why does anyone drink and drive
its like your sayin that nobody whos over 19 has ever got in a car when they were drunk

[Rick, Sweden Aug 31, 2007 6:20:58 PM]

The reasons why teen age drink driving is more prevalent in the UK than in other countries are in part due to the drink culture of the UK and part due to the law. The UK has the highest limit in Europe for permissible blood alcohol - .08 mg/ml compared to Sweden where we have .02mg/ml. 18-20 year olds in the in the UK seem to think that a ‘couple of pints is OK’ which is wrong especially for younger drinkers with lower alcohol tolerance and lower body mass.

In Sweden you can have one small light beer (less than 2% alcohol). The police regularly stop ALL drivers and breathalyse them. Often early in the morning, to catch out those who had a drink at home the night before and are still over the limit the next morning. New Drivers will loose their licence if caught for any traffic offence and have to re-take their test and are forced to pay for lessons. If caught drink-driving they will face up to 10 year ban plus prison time. Youth under the age of 20 can drink beer in a bar but are not allowed to buy any alcohol over 3.5% which is only available in the SystemBolaget (State run off-licence).
The result of a strongly enforced law in Sweden is No Lager Louts creating problems in the streets and a very low incidence of drink driving. I’m so glad that we moved to Sweden 2 days after my son reached 18. I hate to think what would have happened if we where still in the U.K.

[Tracey Greece Aug 31, 2007 2:18:15 PM]

Drinking whether or not you are a teen, seems a national sport in Britain. "What are your hobbies? Drinking and clubbing.." I agree adults also drink and drive, not just the teenagers. That is the example the teens have been given and their role models,so that makes them feel adult and cool. Also I strongly believe that banning things just makes it more attractive to teens. No drinking under the age of 18. I remember myself as a 16 year old drinking gallons of alcohol and the only reason I can think of is that it was illegal and the sum total of our social life. Nothing else open in the evening except for pubs, except for Mcdonalds. Smoking the same. It was my revolution. The question lies far deeper though - why do so many British have such a fixation with alcohol anyway? But I also agree with the zero tolerance comments - but for everyone. You drive? You don't drink. Plain and simple.

[andrew - blackpool Aug 31, 2007 1:55:35 PM]

teenagers drink and drive simply because there is no police in sight to enforce the laws.

[Joe Hardy Castleford Aug 31, 2007 6:13:08 AM]

what i dot get is that all of a sudden young drivers are being blamed for drink and drugs driving.. when its been around for years and not all of them are young drivers, the most of the uk drivers are older more experianced drivers, that do go down to the local get drunk and driver home. maybe not allways ending in accidents or anything, but its still not the point... what will it serve makin the the age to be able to drive higher? ppl of all ages and walks of life drink and take drugs and stil get behind the wheel! bring on a zero drinking limit! sort all drivers out... and it would cut deaths by drink drivin alot more!

[Marie England Aug 30, 2007 4:11:42 PM]

The legal drinking age should be changed to 21... If they break the law then they should be punished not cautioned or community service but bootcamps or prison with strict sentences that are not halved. The law is simply not hard enough anymore there is no justice. Many of these individuals are simply not afraid of consequences anymore because they feel that they literally have nothing to fear regarding punishment. If the survey is correct It angers me and many other people that younger and up and coming generations have turned into a living nightmare...

[Steve McCann Aug 30, 2007 3:11:49 PM]

Lets take the complicated barrister/solicitor understanding out of criminal law as it is supposed to be understood by the common person.
Once this is done perhaps common sense will rule, eg:-
Zero drink/drugs limit = clear understanding.
No insurance etc = No car & ban.
Allow the Police to be more assertive in their duties we have the softest Police in the world its no wonder people have little confidence in them and so carry weapons.
Make offenders and / or their families pay for the crimes they commit and relieve the insurance companies of the financial burden of paying out.State welfare is a priliage not a right!

[Khalid Aug 30, 2007 3:09:43 PM]

I made the stupid mistake some 15 years ago and never ever did it again. So, if you fancy a drink leave the car at home as if you get caught without causing much damage, believe me you will regret it for the rest of your life. I was fortunate to being only 2 points over the limit and that was enough of a wake up call for me.
So ask yourself this, before you embark on a drunken driven spree "DJ Sammy-Why"?

[IAN NORTHAMPTON Aug 30, 2007 1:07:22 PM]

to the comment from Lex, my anser would be that 3 - 4 teens everyday are dying as a result of drink/drug driving, so yes let's pick on the teens!

[hazel. Bournemouth Aug 30, 2007 12:52:09 PM]

Driving should become a priviledge not a right...we should have a zero tollerance
on alcohol and law breaking...no mamby pamby excuses....break the law you lose your car...driving with no tax or insurance automatic
disposal...thats the only language they know....this tolerance to car and motorbike racing needs to stop and we need to use the laws we have not these silly warnings....they mean nothing and the kids know how to use them....take the cars away from them....

[lex south wales Aug 30, 2007 11:57:30 AM]

why is it when ever there is an issue the young are always to blame...
down our local most of the drink drivers are people well over the age of 30...why aint these serveys shown to compaire against.I bet they are much higher..

we all know serveys are just another way of making numbers up and are not a true figure..so the fact is it just another excuse to pick on the young and pull them over and fine money to make more money in fines etc

[Graeme in Ayr , Scotland Aug 30, 2007 11:46:47 AM]

Speed Cameras dont catch drunk and reclkess driving.I feel the goverment is more interested in money than lives

[Niall, Ireland Aug 30, 2007 11:09:20 AM]

Its down to poor parenting. You literally have kids having kids these days. Its a vicious circle, the kids see their parents drinking and driving and they do it.

People need more education on the subject.

[Johnny, Northern Ireland. Aug 30, 2007 11:06:41 AM]

''More and more teenagers are continuing to gamble with their own and other people's lives by drink driving, a survey has revealed.''

What survey!?

I want to know where these statistics come from!.

[george brown midlothian Aug 30, 2007 10:54:39 AM]

It should be zero tolernce for everybody there is more people in there 40/50s drink and drive every day of the week I ran a bar for 30years police tend to turn a blind eye to hot spots. They know exactly what pubs and clubs are responseable.