Drunk Driving and Teens Wisconsin is ranked as the “drunkest state.” With that in mind it is not a surprise that WI also has one of the highest drunk driving rates in the United States. Some people might be proud of that because we made it on a chart, but really; is that something to be proud of? Unfortunately, teens in WI are engaging in drinking and as a result, driving and other risky behaviors at younger ages. Nationwide an estimated 6.6 million children under the age of 18 live in households with at least one alcoholic parent. That means that, 1 in 10 kids in the United States have an alcoholic parent. Is it any shock then that statistics show that one out of 10 children ages 12 and 13 uses alcohol at least once a month, and almost one-half of all 9th graders (40-41%) drink alcohol. Of those 9th graders, one-fifth are binge drinkers. Think of all the potential future accidents that can occur from them binge drinking and driving. In recent years, drinking and driving has become a serious problem for teenagers in the United States. It is a known fact that In order for a person to drive safely, they have to be alert, capable to make decisions based on what they observe is happening around them and carry out those decisions. Coordination while driving becomes difficult, especially when a driver is under the influence of alcohol. It has been proven that alcohol consumption leads to loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowing down of reflexes and distortion of vision, all of which likely will lead to an accident. According to, Buzzle: “Teen Drinking and Driving Facts,” The statistics of drunk driving compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, generate some overwhelming facts about drunk driving. Out of 12,998 fatalities related to drinking and driving in the United States in 2007, 1,393 were caused by a teen who was drinking and driving. The statistics also show that about 28% of teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes were drinking either before or while they were driving. Another startling statistic is that most of the drivers forget to use their seat belts after consuming alcohol. Around 64% of teenagers who were involved in fatal drunk driving crashes were not wearing their seat belts. That same study rates motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of deaths among teenagers. It also reported that the deaths caused by teens drinking and driving made up 40% of all alcohol-related fatalities in the United States. Some sobering statistics to leave you with. Every 22 minutes someone dies in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident. On any given weekend evening, one in 10 drivers on America’s roads has been drinking. Statistics show that you or someone