A statement of the blindingly obvious (kind of) in the Leamington Spa Courier. It’s the result of June drink driving figures from the police.
Warwickshire police breath tested nearly 800 drivers and the results show that of the 142 who were under 25, 8.5% blew positive. This compares to 5.4% for the over-25s (presumably the other 650 tested).
I won’t go into the statistical errors being committed by the Courier here, but I will ask why it is such a big surprise that young people are more likely to do it? But what makes the whole thing even worse is the comment by Superintendent Adrian McGee:
It is obvious that increased education for younger drivers about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is vital.
Well, it might be “obvious” to Supt McGee, but the results do not lead logically to that conclusion at all.
Young people know full well that they shouldn’t drink and drive. They also know that they shouldn’t do a lot of other things, too. They know what constitutes breaking the Law in most cases – particularly when it comes to drink driving.
But they just go ahead and do whatever they want, because they know they stand a good chance of getting away with it, and that makes for a good adrenalin rush to boast about to their mates.
That’s where the problem is. It isn’t “educating” that they need. It’s discipline.