Students Likely To Encounter Intoxicated Drivers
Sean Faye
Issue date: 12/15/07 Section: News
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Underage drinking has become such a part of the college experience that it's almost absurd not to believe that at one point a student will be in a car with someone who is intoxicated. However, when it comes to drinking and driving, far too many college students assume they are aware enough to operate a motor vehicle, and unfortunately are far too often mistaken.
According to the Westchester County Stop DWI Program, young adults are at the highest risk of all to be in an accident after a night of drinking. Drivers who are 20 years- old or younger are almost three times as likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes than other drivers, it said.
Prof. George Darbeau, a behavioral science professor, says, "I think being under the influence of alcohol gives [college students] a sense of importance. It tricks them, and makes them think they can do what they can't."
Besides the obvious physical danger, the legal penalties can be severe as well. According to the New York State DMV's website, people under the age of 21 will have their driver's licenses revoked for one year if they are convicted of DWI or DWAI in New York state, in any other state or a province of Canada.
It is also not possible to plea bargain the penalty down, as the law prohibits pleas for both non-alcohol and drug related violations.
Legal repercussions are bad enough, but alcohol can badly impair a person's judgment.
"When under the influence, you have no conscience, and you have a level of invincibility. It's almost like you can't take your foot off the pedal. You are not aware of the high speed," said Darbeau.
The Westchester County Stop DWI program also claims that one third of the fatalities in New York State automobile accidents involve impaired or intoxicated drivers and pedestrians. With increased Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), crash risk increases sharply. It also claims that a driver with a BAC of 0.08 is four times as likely to cause a crash as a driver who has not been drinking, while a driver with a BAC of 0.16 is 25 times as likely to do so.
According to the Westchester County Stop DWI Program, young adults are at the highest risk of all to be in an accident after a night of drinking. Drivers who are 20 years- old or younger are almost three times as likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes than other drivers, it said.
Prof. George Darbeau, a behavioral science professor, says, "I think being under the influence of alcohol gives [college students] a sense of importance. It tricks them, and makes them think they can do what they can't."
Besides the obvious physical danger, the legal penalties can be severe as well. According to the New York State DMV's website, people under the age of 21 will have their driver's licenses revoked for one year if they are convicted of DWI or DWAI in New York state, in any other state or a province of Canada.
It is also not possible to plea bargain the penalty down, as the law prohibits pleas for both non-alcohol and drug related violations.
Legal repercussions are bad enough, but alcohol can badly impair a person's judgment.
"When under the influence, you have no conscience, and you have a level of invincibility. It's almost like you can't take your foot off the pedal. You are not aware of the high speed," said Darbeau.
The Westchester County Stop DWI program also claims that one third of the fatalities in New York State automobile accidents involve impaired or intoxicated drivers and pedestrians. With increased Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), crash risk increases sharply. It also claims that a driver with a BAC of 0.08 is four times as likely to cause a crash as a driver who has not been drinking, while a driver with a BAC of 0.16 is 25 times as likely to do so.
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