Alcohol and drugs behind the wheel: habits of 18 to 24-year-olds

French mutual insurance company MAAF has just published the results of its latest “Vigicarotte” survey about “Alcohol and drugs behind the wheel: habits of 18 to 24-year-olds”, following a poll of over 3000 young drivers between May and June 2017. While, in 2016, the number of road fatalities of this cohort was down slightly compared with the previous year – 597 victims, down 3.6% – it is still the main cause of mortality for this age group. Hence, the need to continue this awareness campaign called “Vigicarotte” that aims to make 18 to 24-year-olds more responsible about the risks of drink and drug driving.

The main finding is disturbing, since according to the survey results, 40% of respondents admit that they have got behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs (compared with 35% of all respondents all ages combined). And yet, one out of every two young people always apply the principle of a designated driver for an evening out, and 62% of young people have managed to say no to a friend who has drunk or smoked too much when offering to drive them home. These “good practices” need to be applied more widely, “through education and rolling out actions in the field such as Vigicarotte”, to quote Pierre Nègre, Head of Prevention at MAAF Prévention.

More information:

• Vigicarotte website (in French only)
• Grazia – Alcool et drogue: les mauvaises habitudes des jeunes au volant (Alcohol and drugs: bad habits among young drivers) (in French only)