HS survey: Almost a third of young men admit to having driven under influence of alcohol

Reckless attitudes among young drivers worry decision makers

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Nearly one fifth of young drivers responding to a survey conducted by Helsingin Sanomat admit to having driven while under the influence of alcohol.
      Almost one third of the young men, but none of the women taking part in the survey admitted to DUI.
      Heikki Seppä, chief inspector of police at the Ministry of the Interior, says that police are aware of the situation.
      "One fifth of men with driving licences are caught for drinking and driving at some time in their lives. One third seems like a rather large figure. Respondents may have exaggerated somewhat", Seppä ponders.
     
Young drivers also tend to have a heavy foot on the gas pedal. Speeds can often reach between 120 and 140 kilometres an hour, and one third of male respondents claim to have driven at 200 kmph.
      However, Seppä suspects that there must have been a good deal of exaggeration in the answers on driving speed: "I doubt that a third would even have cars that go that fast."
      The survey involved questionnaires answered by 90 young drivers in Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta, Oulu, and Tampere. The respondents were reached at service stations and other hangouts favoured by young drivers.
      Therefore, it is likely that the responses of the youngsters involved in the survey are not an accurate reflection of the prevailing attitudes of the whole age group.
     
The findings of the survey on attitudes among young drivers were seen as shocking by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Leena Luhtanen (SDP) and the Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki (SDP).
      Both ministers spoke of a need to change attitudes among young drivers.
      Luhtanen said that the responses revealed "awful attitudes", and that they are in line with the large number of serious traffic accidents that have taken place in the early part of the year; by mid-May, 26 young people have died in traffic accidents this year, up from just 11 at the same time the year before.
      Rajamäki said that the results of the survey will make the Ministry of the Interior and the police seriously consider stepping up enforcement of traffic laws, and focusing on the right risk groups.
      "Russian roulette in traffic must stop", Rajamäki emphasised.
     
The Ministry of the Interior and the National Public Health Institute are launching a study to see if the increase in drink-driving can be attributed to factors such as increased consumption of strong spirits following the recent tax cut.
      One suggestion has been for a lower blood alcohol level limit to be enforced on young drivers who hold their first temporary driving licence.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ministry of Transport to investigate fatal car crashes from past two weekends (18.5.2004)

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