Underage Impaired Driving

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and about 25% involve an underage impaired driver. The South Dakota Office of Highway Safety supports statewide strategies and communications to combat underage drinking and underage impaired driving. These strategies include enforcing drinking age laws, development of campaigns to target youth and parents and support of alcohol prevention community based programs.

Underage Drinking Facts

• In South Dakota, surveys have shown that nearly half of high school students drank in a 30-day period.
• Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.
• Youth who drink have more problems in school and are more likely to abuse other drugs and/or develop alcohol dependence.
• Young drivers (ages 16-24) make up 40% of drivers involved in a fatal, alcohol-impaired crash.