Drinking And Driving

Suggested Time
30 minutes

Objectives

• Students will be able to describe how effects of alcohol could contribute to accidents by impairing driving skills.

Alcohol still ranks as the first drug of choice for adolescents. Alcohol is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and has fewer negative connotations around its use than other drugs do. Societal attitudes toward adolescent experimentation with alcohol have changed slowly. Many adults and teens still consider experimentation with alcohol to be a normal part of growing up. Although many adults do not condone this behaviour, they accept it as part of the rebelliousness that adolescents are expected to display. Adolescent experimentation with alcohol has become a norm in our society.

These factors, among others, create a sense that alcohol experimentation is OK among our teenage population. Along with the issues of teens drinking, comes the issue of adolescent impaired driving.

Some points to consider are:

• By Grade 9, alcohol and, to some extent, other drugs are accepted as part of life for many teens, especially on weekends.
• Teens are struggling with issues of peer acceptance, boredom, rebellion, self-esteem, individuality, status, a desire to be more like adults, curiosity, and much more. These issues affect how young people make decisions in their lives.
• Like all children, adolescents model the adult behaviour that they see. Sometimes the people they are imitating send them contradictory messages about driving while impaired. An adult may drink and drive, yet tell their son or daughter not to. Teens don’t know which message to believe.
• Teens are also influenced by the behaviour of their peers. Being "true to yourself" can be very difficult for a teen. Teens need to develop skills to be able to make the right decisions.

Activity

Inform your group that this exercise will examine the effects of alcohol and show how drinking results in impairment of driving skills.

Briefly discuss some possibilities and list them on the board (e.g. increased time needed to make a decision may mean you do not apply the brakes quickly enough).

Review the effects that alcohol has on a person using the summary of alcohol facts sheet, and ask your group how these might affect a person’s driving skills.

Relating The Cause Of Accidents To Use Of Alcohol

Check the exercise by comparing and discussing answers, with emphasis on the effects. Which would be the most likely cause of an accident if the driver had been drinking?

Debrief

• What steps can you take to make sure you are not under pressure to drive after you have been drinking?
• What can you do if someone who has been drinking offers you a ride?