Talking to College Students About Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol remains one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13,524 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in 2022, accounting for 32% of all traffic-related deaths that year.

Young people, including college students, are among those most at risk for alcohol-related accidents and deaths at every level of impairment. To address the problem, all 50 states have made it illegal for drivers under 21 to get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol. While stricter alcohol laws have helped reduce impairment-related accidents and deaths among young people, they haven't eliminated the problem.

How you can get involved as a parent

As a parent, it can be hard to monitor your child's behavior, especially if they're living out of state or across the country while at school. Still, there are a few meaningful steps you can take to help reduce your child's risk of being involved in an alcohol-related accident:

Talk about the consequences of impaired driving. Not everyone who drives while impaired will be involved in an accident, but they may still get pulled over and arrested. Make sure your child understands the consequences of a DUI charge, including fines, mandatory jail time, loss of license, and more.

Talk about alternative transportation. There's no reason for anyone, including college students, to drive after drinking. Talk with your child about how to get home safely after drinking, including rideshare apps, designating a sober driver, using public transportation, or calling you or another family member for a ride.

Set a real example. In addition to never drinking and driving yourself, it's also important to be firm about alcohol use. Never serve alcohol to your child or their friends if they're underage or planning to drive.

At Stern & Stern Law Firm, our goal is to fight for the rights of people who were injured in crashes. If you or your child were involved in a car accident, contact our Nassau County car accident lawyers today for a free consultation.