Young Adult Lawbreakers: A Statistical Snapshot

Many people consider themselves law-abiding citizens, but it's surprisingly common to break the law without even realising it. A study by BT TV found that the average Brit commits around 32 offences per year, while a poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. These can include anything from speeding to using someone else's Wi-Fi, and in some cases, simply singing Happy Birthday in public. So, how many people have broken the law by the age of 20?

Underage drinking

The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone, regardless of age or drinking status. It can lead to aggressive behaviour, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths. Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of thousands of people under 21 in the US each year, including those from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides. In 2011 alone, about 188,000 people under 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries.

Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach. Successful strategies include individual-level interventions, school-based programs, family-based interventions, community-based initiatives, and policy-level changes such as raising the price of alcohol and enforcing zero-tolerance laws for driving under the influence.

Parents and teachers can also play a crucial role in shaping youth attitudes towards drinking. Open and honest conversations about the dangers of alcohol, responsible drinking practices, and setting a positive example can help discourage underage drinking. Additionally, supervising parties and encouraging alcohol-free activities can also reduce the prevalence of underage drinking.

Speeding

The dangers of speeding are often underestimated, with teens driving 40 mph in a 30 mph zone, for example, may think they are only going 10 mph over the limit. However, this small increase in speed translates to a 78% increase in collision energy. Speeding is also more common in certain locations and with certain driving behaviours. For instance, speeding is more likely to occur on non-freeway arterial roads, with 44% of fatal crashes involving teens occurring on these roads between 2015 and 2019.

To address the dangers of speeding, parents can play a crucial role in reinforcing safe driving practices and educating their teens about the risks of speeding. This includes teaching them how to manage their speed according to traffic and road conditions, as well as stressing the importance of maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles.

Texting while driving

The dangers of texting while driving are clear. It takes about five seconds to read a text, and during that time, a driver travelling at 55mph will travel the length of a football field (360 feet) with their eyes off the road. Texting distracts you long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55mph with your eyes off the road. It also has the same effect on your driving reaction time as consuming four beers in an hour.

To avoid the temptation of texting while driving, it is recommended that drivers put their phones out of reach, prepare directions in advance, and use their phone's "do not disturb" or driving mode functions.

Littering

While it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact number of people who have broken the law by the age of 20, littering is a common offence. In fact, according to one source, nearly half of all Americans have admitted to littering at some point.

There are several reasons why people litter. One of the main reasons is convenience or laziness. If there is no trash can nearby, people may decide to simply drop their litter on the ground rather than hold onto it until they find a bin. This is especially true if they believe that someone else will come along and clean it up, or if they see that an area is already littered. According to the "broken window theory", areas that are already littered tend to encourage more littering, as people feel that they are only contributing a small amount to an existing problem. Other factors that can increase the likelihood of littering include a lack of understanding about the negative impact of littering, a lack of pride or respect for the local area, and the influence of friends and family who also litter.

To reduce littering, it is important to educate people about the negative impacts of littering and to provide more public waste disposal options. Stricter anti-litter laws and regulations can also help deter people from littering, especially when there are serious legal or financial consequences. By taking action to prevent littering, we can create cleaner and healthier communities for everyone.

Using unsecured Wi-Fi

While many people consider themselves law-abiding citizens, it is not uncommon for people to break a law here and there, whether knowingly or unknowingly. One such example is connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi.

Using another person's unsecured Wi-Fi without their permission is called "piggybacking" or "mooching". While it may be tempting to log into an unsecured network, especially when your own connection is unstable or unavailable, doing so without the owner's consent is prohibited in most jurisdictions and can result in serious legal consequences.

The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) criminalizes accessing a computer without authorization or obtaining information from a protected computer. The vague language in the CFAA, such as "without authorization" and "obtain information," means that connecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi network or violating a website's terms of service (which few people read) could technically result in a felony charge.

Piggybacking on Wi-Fi is specifically illegal in many states, including New York, where it is a Class A misdemeanor. While some argue that the regulations governing piggybacking are ambiguous, there have been numerous instances of individuals being arrested and charged for using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection without permission.

In addition to legal consequences, using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection can also pose risks to your digital privacy and security. When connected to an unsecured network, your device and personal information may be vulnerable to hacking or other malicious activities.

To avoid any potential issues, it is always best to obtain permission from the owner before using any wireless connection. Additionally, securing your own Wi-Fi network with a password can help protect your information and prevent unauthorized access.

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