Tips

Only 31 percent of parents of 15- to 16-year-olds believe their child had a drink in the past year, compared to the 60 percent of teens in that age group who reported drinking. (Hart Research Associations, 2003)

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people from 2 to 33 years old. (NHTSA, 2004)

The average person metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Only time will sober a person up. Drinking strong coffee, exercising or taking a cold shower will not help. (Michigan State University, 2002)

Drunk drivers killed 529 people in New York state in 2003. Please don't drink and drive. (NHTSA, 2004)

Costs for people involved in crashes who were not wearing safety belts were 55 percent higher than those who were. Up to 85 percent of these costs are borne by society, not the individual involved in the crash. (NHTSA, 2003)

It is estimated that 446 children under age 5 were saved as a result of child restraint use in 2003. An estimated 7,020 lives were saved by child restraints from 1975-2003. (NHTSA, 2004)