Educating your kids about the dangers of drunk driving begins at home. Proper role modeling can be instilled from a very early age as kids see that their parents never drive under the influence. This can be as simple as having one parent drive if the other is having a glass or two of wine, or simply making a point not to imbibe at all if driving is involved. While the word is out there about drunk driving—and kids continue to study about it and hear about the dangers in school—when they see their parents and friends practicing good driving habits they have valuable real-world models to learn from. Even so, they may still be significantly affected if someone they know is injured or killed by a drunk driver.

As your teenagers begin learning to drive by themselves, you may feel great trepidation about their new independence. Most parents will agree, it can be stressful worrying about teenagers out on the road, no matter how responsible they are; however, this is a crucial age to make sure they understand about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse. While detrimental in any setting, behind the wheel such a mix can be deadly. It is imperative that our young drivers understand they should never drink and drive, but even more so they should understand how to drive defensively—and know what to do if they encounter another driver on the road who seems to be inebriated.

Over 10,000 people are killed each year in drunk driving accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And while that is a substantial improvement in recent decades, these accidents still leave far too many loved ones missing their husbands, wives, sons and daughters, other family members, and close friends. Drunk driving accidents also end up costing over $52 billion annually.

Begin communicating with your kids as soon as they are old enough to understand about the dangers of drugs and alcohol mixed with driving, and make sure that your teenage drivers understand the consequences many have faced if they drink and drive, from getting a DUI and facing steep penalties to the possibility of hurting or killing someone—something they can never take back.

If you or a loved one have been injured due to a drunk driver, contact ­­­­Heintz Law now. Our experienced attorneys will fight to recover compensation on your behalf. We handle all types of Florida personal injury cases, and our law firm has established an impressive record of verdicts and settlements. If you have been seriously injured, call us now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!