A new study performed by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) has shown that New Year’s Eve is the holiday on which teens are most likely to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, despite the fact that they believe that it is the most dangerous driving night of the year.
The survey included the participation of almost 2,300 students in the eleventh and twelfth grades. When those who were drivers were asked about the degree of danger they believe is associated with certain events in terms of drinking (or using drugs) and driving, New Year’s Eve was the worst on the list.
The results indicated that 49 percent felt that New Year’s Eve was either very or extremely dangerous for driving, and 10 percent had already driven under the influence on this event.
Comparatively, the next holiday on the list was the 4th of July, where 29 percent thought that the holiday was either very or extremely dangerous, and 8 percent had driven after using alcohol or drugs on that day. Prom night came in third with 20 percent of teens see it as very or extremely dangerous to drive following the event, and 6 percent had driven after drinking or using drugs on that night.
An important point that was noted from the survey’s results, which was that passengers do have the ability to have an influence over whether or not their drivers will get behind the wheel after using alcohol or drugs. In fact, 94 percent of teen drivers said that they wouldn’t drive after drinking if their passenger asked them not to. The same was said by 90 percent of teens in terms of driving after using marijuana.