Pomp & Consequence: Teen Drinking & Driving

As we approach prom, graduation, and the summer season, it’s important to recognize that while these are generally happy occasions, they also signify an increasingly dangerous time of year for teen drivers.

According to a recent survey by AAA, 41 percent of teens between the ages of 16 and 19 admitted it was “highly likely” that they or a friend would use drugs or alcohol on prom night. Approximately 53 percent of teens who admitted to drinking during or after the prom said they consumed four or more alcoholic beverages. In a 2022 AAA teen survey, 30% of high school students said it was “likely” they or their friends would be under the influence of drugs or alcohol sometime during prom or graduation season and that 82% of them believe their peers are likely to drive impaired instead of calling a parent for help.

To make these statistics even scarier, teens are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash if they engage in underage drinking, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Responsibility.org reports that 906 people under the age of 21 died in drunk-driving crashes in one recent year, representing 9 percent of the annual drunk-driving fatalities in the United States. 

“These aren’t just numbers. They are sons and daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends. Young lives with their whole futures ahead of them, each one cut short. These tragedies radiate to devastated and grieving families and communities, leaving lives that will never be the same,” Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) said in a statement for Alcohol Awareness Month.

Teens often forget that their decisions can have deadly consequences. This time of year, especially, it’s important for parents and guardians to have an open conversation with their teens about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. 

While police are typically on heightened alert for impaired drivers during prom and graduation season, it is also important to be extra vigilant on the roads this time of year. You can’t always control what another driver does on the road, but you can arm yourself with the knowledge to do everything in your power to avoid being involved in a crash. 

What Illinois Teens Should Know About Impaired Driving

Many teenagers underestimate the dangers of impaired driving, but research consistently shows how alcohol and drugs put teens at risk of serious injury when they’re behind the wheel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report car crashes are the leading cause of death for all U.S. teenagers. CDC researchers also report that car accidents killed 2,800 teens and injured another 227,000 in a single recent year alone. That amounts to about eight deaths per day from teen driving crashes.

CDC data on accidents involving teen drivers and substance abuse is even more alarming. Researchers found that 29 percent of drivers ages 15-20 killed in traffic collisions that year had been drinking before the crash. The CDC also found a strong correlation between drinking and drivers failing to wear their seatbelts. Approximately 62 percent of drivers ages 15-20 who died in car crashes that year were drinking before the crash and were not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.

In addition to the potentially fatal consequences of drinking and driving, teen drivers should also know they can face stiff legal penalties for impaired driving. Illinois law says any driver under age 21 caught with alcohol or drugs in their system can have their driving privileges suspended for up to two years. If a teen driver causes a crash after consuming alcohol or drugs, they could face additional penalties, including fines and jail time. These offenses could stay on a teen driver’s record for years to come, affecting their educational and job prospects and making it impossible to live their life to its fullest.

Teens should also know that it is illegal in Illinois to accept alcohol from someone else. Penalties for doing so start at three months of driving privilege suspension with court supervision. First, second, and subsequent convictions carry stiffer penalties. If the teen is a legal adult, 235 ILCS 5/6-16 makes it a Class A misdemeanor for them to provide alcohol to those under 21, a crime that involves at least a $500 fine.

What Illinois Parents Should Know About Impaired Driving 

Parents are critical in preventing impaired driving accidents and keeping teen drivers safe. A Mothers Against Drunk Driving report says teens drinking at parents’ homes is the second most common method of accessing alcohol. Parents should also be aware of how teens’ perception and peer pressure can influence their thinking. The MADD report says that while 65 percent of teens ages 17-18 see impaired driving as a high-risk behavior, just 47 percent believe their friends strongly disapprove of impaired driving. This perception gap can cause teens to drink and drive due to perceived peer pressure.

Parents should also know they can be liable if teens drink in their homes and then cause an accident. Illinois’ Social Host Law makes it a crime to serve alcohol to anyone under age 21, which could still apply even if you’re not at home at the time. If a teen leaves your home after drinking and injures someone in an accident, you could face harsh legal penalties.

How Our Illinois Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help

We hope Illinois teens take the dangers of drunk driving seriously and protect themselves as the school year wraps up. Nevertheless, car crashes happen, and you have the right to compensation if an impaired driver injures you. Our Illinois drunk driving accident attorneys can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. Call Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free consultation, or visit our contact page to learn more.