Students and drunk driving myths

With finals wrapping up and the holidays right around the corner there is time to relax and let loose a little. But not too much.

For most students, winter break is a time to celebrate and have fun with friends and family. But whether plans include a ski trip to Colorado, a family get-together or just hanging out with friends, chances are there will be temptation to drink and drive.

"Just say no," the saying goes.

But that is not always easy to do. Being amongst a group of friends can sometimes impair a person's thinking. So before getting behind the wheel after a night of partying with friends, there are some facts to consider.

The leading cause of death for young adults is alcohol-related accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even when young drivers are not drinking, they still have a much higher likelihood of getting into a car accident. That risk increases with every drink taken, according to the NHTSA.

The NHTSA says that two out of every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident during their lifetime.

"When you drink and drive you are not only risking your own life, you are also putting the lives of everyone else on the roadway in danger," said Long Beach Police Officer Alex Angotti.

So considering the facts, why do people still drink and drive? Possibly it is because there are so many myths about alcohol consumption. Join Together, an alcohol awareness organization lists the following as a few myths about drunk driving:

Myth number one: "Drinking coffee sobers me up."

"The fact is that only time can sober a person up," according to the Join Together Web Site. "Coffee only makes you a nervous, wide-awake, drunk."

Myth number two: "I can drink more than other people because I weigh more."

While it is true that size plays a part in absorbtion of alcohol, so does one's own metabolism, amount of rest they have had, and how much they have had to eat that day, according to Join Together.

Myth number three: "I just drive slower after drinking."

"Drunk drivers are dangerous at any speed," according to Join Together. "The truth is that driving slow can actually be very dangerous."

"It's just not worth it it to drink and drive," Angotti said. "It's not worth getting into an accident and hurting yourself and others."