Bad, girls - Short Stuff - drinking and driving accidents - Statistical Data Included

Girls' Life, June, 2002

Seems girls are catching up to boys in two of the worst ways--girls are almost as dangerous on the road and drink as much alcohol as guys. In 1990, 160 of every 1,000 girl drivers crashed their cars. That went up 9 percent in 2000, when 175 per 1000 girls wrecked their wheels. Though 16-year-aid guys still crash more often than girls, their number of accidents decreased in the same period--from 216 to 210 per 1,000 drivers.

Researchers say girls might be more at risk because they are driving more, averaging 6,780 miles a year, while boys are driving less often. Meanwhile, girls are also drinking nearly as often as boys. A recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse shows 48 percent of teen girls and 52 percent of teen boys drink. Among high school freshmen, 41 percent of girls drink compared to 40 percent of boys. Girls, don't be proud of beating out the boys in that stat. Some researchers suggest girls are downing drinks in an attempt to fit in. Trust us--it's so not cool.