There are people who drink and drive because it’s what they want to do. There are also people who do this because of what’s happening around them. Regardless of your age, peer pressure can make it difficult to say “no” to a drink, which can increase the risk of breaking the law.
Peer pressure is a particularly big problem among the younger generation, such as those who are in high school and college. These individuals are more willing to do whatever it takes to fit in, even if it means getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
Complicating matters is the fact that there is more than one type of peer pressure. Consider the following examples:
- Direct peer pressure: This comes into play when an individual or group of individuals influences a person’s decision to drink or avoid alcohol. For example, they could say “everyone is doing it, so you might as well have one drink.”
- Indirect peer pressure: This is the result of someone putting unnecessary pressure on him- or herself due to what’s happening around them. If someone attends a party with no plans to consume alcohol but everyone else is doing it, they may decide to join in.
- Social media: There was a time when social media had nothing to do with peer pressure, but this is no longer the case. Today, people follow their friends, family and acquaintances on social media, such as Instagram and Facebook. If they see these people drinking alcohol, they may assume that they should be doing the same. Digital peer pressure is real.
Even if you are good at managing peer pressure, don’t assume that everyone else has the same will power. There’s a good chance that when you get behind the wheel, especially during the evening hours, that someone else on the road is under the influence of alcohol.
If you’re injured in a drunk driving accident, take these steps:
- Move your vehicle out of harm’s way
- Examine yourself for injuries
- Call 911 to explain what happened
- Avoid a discussion with the negligent driver
- Receive medical care
After you do these things, the final step is contacting your insurance company and determining if you can take other action, such as filing a lawsuit, that can help you recover damages related to your accident.