Driving home the facts about ZERO tolerance

DRIVING HOME THE FACTS— ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCE

Young drivers are at high risk to be involved in an Alcohol-related crash.

At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of being involved in a crash is greater for young people than for older people.  Among drivers with BAC levels of 0.08 % or higher involved in fatal crashes in 2009,  more than one out of every 3 were between 21 and 24 years of age (35%). The next two largest groups were ages 25 to 34 (32%) and 35 to 44 (26%). 

Zero tolerance applies different standards to underage drivers than to the rest of the driving population.

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws are different for drivers under the age of 21 because it is already illegal for these individuals to buy or possess alcoholic beverages. BAC levels reflect the level of alcohol in an individual’s system. While BAC levels for underage drivers vary from state to state (.00 or .02), zero tolerance laws make it illegal for those under the age of 21 to drive after consuming any amount of alcohol.

Zero tolerance begins with zero tolerance of underage drinking.

Parents, law enforcement agencies, and communities need to take a zero tolerance stand against underage drinking. It is the most effective way to reduce youth alcohol-related crashes. Underage drinking should not be viewed as a right of passage. It is dangerous as well as a significant factor in future alcohol dependence.

Zero tolerance means zero chances.

Zero tolerance laws provide for different policies regarding underage drivers because of their increased crash risk at low BAC levels. More 18- and 19-year-olds die in low BAC alcohol-related crashes than any other age group. Penalties for violating zero tolerance laws may include license suspension and revocation, significant fines and community service.

Strong enforcement of zero tolerance laws works and exists to ensure safer driving habits for young people. Minimum-age drinking laws have saved an estimated 18,220 lives since their inception in 1975. Zero tolerance laws work to achieve the same goal.