College Student Driver Safety

College students devote long hours in intense lectures, exhausting lab activities, studying, taking tests, writing reports and papers, and a legion of other pursuits. Conversely, when they take the opportunity to relax and unwind, they try to get the most benefit out of the short time they are allowed. They “go for the gusto.” Nobody will deny that it can be rewarding and healthy to play as hard as you work, but making prudent choices when and how you “let loose” is crucial.

It is common for people to behave differently in a group than they would when they are alone. Pile a group of college juniors in an SUV to drive to the best night spot in town on a Friday night and the driver finds that his exuberant passengers challenge his ability to focus on the road. If the driver has a “buzz” going after consuming a beer or two, he may believe that he is not legally “under the influence” as he convinces the group that he can handle the situation. Ninety-five times out of a hundred, this ends without incident.

Oregon has enjoyed a 25 percent drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the past twenty years. However, studies also show that 25% of drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes in recent years had been drinking, and 16% of the alcohol-related fatalities involved drivers with levels below the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration of 0.08. Fatal car accidents for college students are decreasing however, thanks to the efforts of responsible students and student organizations who are working to eliminate alcohol as an integral part of student life.

You don’t have to be involved in a fatal DUI traffic accident to bring a world of hurt to you and your family. After your arrest, you can expect to have your driver’s license suspended for ninety days to three years. You have a chance to overturn the suspension by filing an appeal. You will need to appear in court to answer to the criminal charges of DUI and any other charges you are accused of, such as reckless driving.

Expect fines in the range of $1,000 to $6,250 and jail time from 2 days up to a year. Being convicted of DUI can result in your car insurance being canceled as well. To obtain car insurance at this point, you may have to consult insurers who deal with high risk situations, and who usually charge three to five times the rates of standard insurers.

Students have a lot on their minds and are entitled to let off a little steam, as long as it does not interfere with driving safely and getting back to the dorm, fraternity house, or sorority house intact. A fantastic way to increase your odds in a world full of aggressive and thoughtless drivers is to take a Defensive Driving Class. It will teach you how to steer clear of dangerous situations before they occur.