Impaired and distracted driving, and riding safely

Driving takes full attention and good judgment, and many things can impair it: alcohol, cannabis, other drugs, some prescription and over-the-counter medicines, drowsiness, and distraction such as texting. Impaired drivers react more slowly, misjudge distances, and take dangerous risks, and crashes are a leading cause of death for young people. Every state has zero-tolerance laws for drivers under 21 that set very low legal limits for alcohol, 0.02 blood alcohol concentration or lower, so drinking any alcohol before driving is unsafe and can be illegal. Never ride with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs, even for a short trip. Make a plan ahead of time, such as calling a parent or another trusted adult to pick you up or using a code word that means "come get me," and trusted adults will usually be far more concerned about your safety than about how you got into the situation. Wear a seat belt on every trip in every seat, and as a driver, put your phone away and never text while driving.

This explanation is AI-generated and can occasionally be wrong. 🚩 Report