Most people in their late teens, 20s, and early 30s feel untouchable. We’re young, We’re healthy, we’re busy building our futures. We bounce back after a night out, we juggle work, school, friendships, and everything else life throws at us. The idea that something life-shattering could happen to us? It doesn’t quite feel real. It can feel like a distant possibility – until we realize the statistic: 2 out of 3 people will be impacted by impaired driving in their lifetime.
That’s exactly why impaired driving is so dangerous.
The Age Group Most at Risk
Here’s the part nobody likes to admit: 18–34 year olds are the most likely age group to be involved in impaired driving crashes. Not “other people.” Not “older drivers.” Us. (NHTSA)
- Every day, 34 people are killed in drunk driving crashes.
- Alcohol-related crashes make up nearly 30% of all traffic deaths.
- Young adults are not only more likely to drive after drinking or using – we’re also the ones most often in the passenger seat when a friend does.
You may think you’re just one beer “over the line,” or that a hit of weed “doesn’t really count.” But impaired driving doesn’t care about your age, your GPA, or your plans for tomorrow. It changes everything in seconds.
Why It Matters to Your Life
When you think of impaired driving, you probably imagine the worst-case scenario – a fatal crash. But here’s what’s just as real:
- Permanent injuries. Survivors can face brain trauma, chronic pain, or mobility loss that alters every part of their future.
- The price tag. A DUI can cost upwards of $10,000 – between legal fees, fines, insurance spikes, and lost opportunities.
- Your reputation. A single charge can follow you on job applications, rental applications, and background checks for years (or maybe permanently, depending on severity and where you live).
- The guilt. If you cause a crash that injures or kills someone, you live with that for the rest of your life. No amount of “I thought I was fine” takes it back.
Why Planning Ahead is the Power Move
Here’s the good news: impaired driving is 100% preventable. We are not powerless here. In fact, it comes down to simple, everyday choices:
- Set your plan before you pour. Decide in advance whether you’re calling a rideshare, using a designated driver, or crashing at a friend’s.
- Be the friend who speaks up. It’s awkward for a second, but you might be saving a life.
- Make safe the default. Our generation is already leading on mental health, equality, and climate. Ending impaired driving can be another movement we own.
Bottom Line
We’re young and it’s easy to feel invincible – but impaired driving is touching our age group the most. And unlike some risks in life, this one is completely avoidable.
Every 85 seconds, someone is killed or injured in an impaired driving crash. You don’t have to be one of them. You don’t have to cause it, either.
Your choices matter. They matter tonight, tomorrow, and 10 years from now. And when enough of us start treating sober rides and smart planning as the norm, we’ll be the generation that ends impaired driving for good.
Impaired Driving Ends Here. Start with your next choice.
