Teenagers tend to get a bad rap when it comes to certain things. We're regularly accused of being moody, arrogant, noisy and most often, irresponsible. Most teenagers seem to make a sincere effort to be responsible, but being late to jobs and forgetting homework happens to everyone. This perceived irresponsibility includes more serious things, however, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. From what I've seen and experienced, more and more teens seem to be making it a priority to be responsible when it comes to drinking and driving. There are significant exceptions to the stereotype that people of my generation are careless when it comes to the issue of driving under the influence. While I am by no means what you might call a "partier," I have been to my share of social gatherings common among high school students. When attending these functions, I find myself increasingly impressed with the number of people who volunteer to be designated drivers. No matter the location, there always seem to be people who refuse alcohol and other various intoxicating substances with the simple phrase "I'm driving." Obviously, my experiences aren't representative of all teenagers. But they are important counters to popular perception and provide insight on the issue of responsible driving where there doesn't seem to be much. Educational and media-driven influence and emphasis are partly accountable for this sense of responsibility. Classes such as driver's ed help students appreciate the many consequences of driving while intoxicated. From watching numerous videos of people whose lives are dramatically changed because of a drunken driving accident to driving a golf cart while wearing "drunk goggles," information about the potential consequences of driving under the influence is being used in positive ways. Something about listening to a guy who is confined to a wheelchair, talking in slurred speech about how an alcohol-related accident changed his entire life, is enough to make most people think further about drinking and driving. Other, more informal forms of communication also make a difference. Movies that target teens show characters are thinking about and taking precautions against drinking and driving, and that sends positive messages to youthful drivers. In "Can't Hardly Wait," high school kids arrived at a party and promptly put their keys in a bucket if they planned on drinking that night. "10 Things I Hate About You" shows one of the main characters about to drive home after drinking, but one of her friends won't allow her to drive and instead drives her home. Despite all these positives, statistics don't lie. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "research continues to show that young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are more often involved in alcohol-related crashes than any other comparable age group." "In 2002, 29 percent of 15- to 20-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking." Over the last 20 years, however, great progress has been made in reducing the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths. The federal government says the number of alcohol-related crash fatalities in Arizona decreased 55 percent between 1982-2002. Although the problem of people driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will never be completely eliminated, it's important to recognize the ways in which teenagers can and have been contributing to solutions.