Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Re: Raise the Drinking Age back to 21 - Lessen Car Accidents - Save Lives - and Lower Insurance Costs

Mrs. Whiteford provides an emotional and compelling argument to raise the drinking age across Canada, back to 21 as a solution to crash statistics involving drivers ages 16 to 24.

Unfortunately, her argument perpetuates the myth that drinking and driving is the leading cause of car crashes in the age group when it is not.

Certainly alcohol is a contributing factor in some car crashes, but it is actually speed that is the greatest cause of most crashes involving young drivers. Raising the drinking age will have no impact here and in fact, many youths who lose access to alcohol turn to marijuana as an alternative.

Interestingly as well is data that suggests that overall and as a group, youth have gotten the "do not drink and drive' message better than their parents. Youth are more prone to using strategies such as designated drivers to ensure safety at events where drinking occurs whereas parents are less apt to use this strategy.

The issue of high crash records associated with youth has more to do with limited ability for risk analysis when compared to parents. Youths simply do not have the degree of experience necessary to best calculate risk in any given scenario. As such, they are more prone to push limits, thinking they are manageable when they are not. The first year of driving is the most dangerous with 25% of new drivers having a crash.

Enter the I Promise Program. Rather than relying on government intervention, this initiative relies upon the relationship between parent and youth to manage and set expectations for appropriate driving behaviour. The program begins by reinforcing parents as role models. After all, there is no sense in telling a young person to do or not do anything, if their parent does not abide by the same rule. Then the program has parents and teen discuss and negotiate a safe driving contract that addresses the major contributors to risk and risk reduction. Finally, parent and youth affix a rear-window decal to the vehicle that displays a toll-free number and asks the question, "Am I driving Safely?"

In this order, parents as role models, safe driving contract, then means for accountability, we are successful in reducing risk.

Data on our made in Canada program, from South Carolina, demonstrates a 29% reduction in car crashes for youth ages 15 - 19. This number should come as no surprise as it is consistent with the reduction of crashes seen in those jurisdictions with graduated licensing. So now on top of graduated licensing, parents can adopt a strategy to promote even greater safety for their young driver.

Please know that I certainly wouldn't argue against raising the drinking age. But realistically, we know that youth will go on to other intoxicants and will continue to engage in risk taking behaviour.

Social science research tells us that those parents who keep a closer eye on their teenaged children, have children who are less likely to smoke, get pregnant, do drugs and alcohol and perform better academically. The technical name is "parental monitoring".

Please note this is not a matter of "trust" as some may like to cast it. It is a matter of safety.

We didn't let our children touch the stove. We taught them how to cross the street - and then watched then cross. Now it's time for driving.

Use the I Promise Program and keep a better eye on them. That's how we reduce the risk of their involvement in a crash. www.ipromiseprogram.com

Finally, the social science research also tells us that no matter how much of an influence peer pressure may be, parents still wield the most influence in their children's life. After all, who really does have control of the keys? We hope the tail doesn't wag the dog.

Gary Direnfeld, Executive Director
I Promise Program
20 Suter Crescent,
Dundas, ON L9H 6R5

1 866 879 1999
www.ipromiseprogram.com
garydi@sympatico.ca