JUST THE FACTS

Information contained below can be found the brochure Just the Facts as published by the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. This version contains information from the DMV for the 2001 calendar year.

The Good News!

• Young people, age 16-20, are more likely than any other age group to use various strategies, when hosting a social occasion where alcohol is served, to try to prevent their guests from drinking and driving.
• In 2001, the total percent of 16-20 year olds involved in a fatal alcohol-related crash was 26%. This is a 14% decrease from 40% in 2000. (DMV)
• The percent of teenagers nationwide who drove after drinking alcohol is down 18.9%. (American Journal of Public Health)
• The percent of teenagers nationwide who rode with a driver who had five or more drinks is down 13.5%. (American Journal of Public Health)
• Since 1989, less than half of youth motor vehicle fatalities have been alcohol-related. Drinking and driving is no longer the leading cause of death for teenagers. However, motor vehicle crashes remain so. (NCADD)
• The alcohol-related traffic fatality rate for youth has been cut by over half since 1988 from 19 to 9 deaths per 100,000 youth. The rate in 1998 is the lowest since record keeping began in 1982. (NCADD)

Some Facts to Know

• 55 teenagers, aged 15-19, were killed in alcohol-related crashes, 5.91 percent of the total (930) traffic fatalities.
• 1,075 teenagers, aged 15-19, were injured in alcohol-related crashes, 1.35 percent of the total (79,806) traffic injuries.
• Of those convicted of DUI, 83.38 percent were male and 15.92 percent were female
• Estimates are that minimum drinking age laws have saved 18,220 lives since 1975. (NHTSA)
• In 1998 alone, these laws saved 861 lives. All states and the District of Columbia have 21-year-old minimum drinking age laws. (Note: These are lives saved of all ages involving 18 to 20 year-old drivers in fatal crashes.)
• As of June 1998, all States and the District of Columbia have set a BAC limit of .02 or lower for drivers under the age of 21 (Zero Tolerance Laws).

Note: Twenty-three states now require (as of November 1, 1999) their young novice drivers to pass through a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. Graduated Driver licensing is a three step licensing process that gradually phases in the licensing privilege as new skills are learned. These systems may include such features as: night time driving restrictions; certified hours of parental instruction; zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs; passenger restrictions; and accelerated sanctions for traffic violations. Some states do not provide for a full three-step licensing process, but include some individual component parts of the graduated driver licensing system.

Drinking Alcohol

• Alters your ability to make decisions
• Impairs your judgment
• Gives a false sense of self-confidence
• Delays reaction time
• Impairs motor skills, such as coordination and balance
• Greatly reduces your inhibitions, making you do things you would never do when sober

The Facts Regarding Drinking and Gender

• Male drivers involved in fatal crashes were nearly twice as likely to have been intoxicated than female drivers.

• Males are four times more likely than females to drive after drinking.

Virginia Laws

• Zero Tolerance: Virginia’s ZERO TOLERANCE LAW makes driving under the influence of any amount of alcohol or drugs a serious criminal offense for drivers under the age of 21. Officials indicate that alcohol-related traffic deaths are declining due to such measures as the “zero tolerance” laws.
• Young adults aged 18-20 caught purchasing, possessing or drinking alcohol can LOSE their DRIVER’S LICENSE for up to ONE YEAR, be fined up to $2,500 and face the possibility of JAIL TIME.
• Teens 13-17 caught being drunk in public, purchasing, possessing or drinking alcohol can lose their driver’s license for up to six months, or be prohibited from applying for a license until age 16 ½.
• Violators of using a FAKE ID to establish false identity or false age to purchase an alcoholic beverage are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and upon conviction, face a fine up to $2,500 and/or a year in jail and/or fifty hours of community service, and can lose their driver’s license for up to a year.
• POSSESSING or using alcohol on school property carries a fine of up to $1,000 and six months JAIL TIME.
• A driver age 20 or younger with a blood alcohol level between 0.02 and 0.07 could lose their license for up to six months.

When Do Most Alcohol-Related Crashes Occur?

• The greatest number of youth fatalities occurs in June, July and August. The fewest occur in January through April.
• Approximately three times as many young people die in alcohol-related crashes, per day, on weekends than on weekdays.
• Per mile driven, 16-year-old drivers have the highest rate of fatal crash involvement by a wide margin.
• For every 100,000 licensed drivers, young drinking drivers are involved in fatal crashes at approximately twice the rate of drivers aged 21 and older.

Just the Facts: Ways to save a life, save a friend, save yourself

1. Take a stand against drunk driving! It only takes one person to take a stand for the rest of the crowd to follow.
2. Do NOT get into the car with someone who has been drinking.
3. If you see someone who has been drinking, take his/her keys away from him or her. Remember, friends don’t let friends drive drunk!
4. If you find yourself in an environment where your peers are drinking, call a friend, call a cab, or call your parents to come pick you up.
5. To report suspected substance-impaired drivers on the highway, dial #77 on your cellular phone to reach the Virginia State Police. Be prepared to give your location, direction of travel, description of any suspect vehicle and license number and description of situation prompting the call. (DMV)
6. Buckle-up every time you get in a car. It’s your best defense against drunk drivers.

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