Many teens 'willing' to ride with drunks.

• Position: DUI

One in four teens is willing to ride with a driver who has been drinking; one in three has been a passenger with a drinking driver in the past year; and 22% of the drinking drivers were friends under 21, according to a survey conducted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and State Farm Insurance, which polled 15- to 20-year-olds nationwide.

In the last year, 378 youngsters in the age group surveyed were killed as passengers of a drinking driver--202 deaths were a result of riding with an underage drunk driver.

"I know all too well the devastating consequences that can occur as a result of underage drinking," says MADD Pres. Colleen Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed while riding with an underage drunk and drugged driver. "We know that youth can either positively or negatively influence each other about alcohol."

Teens need to protect themselves and their friends by making a pact never to ride with a drinking driver--no matter who it is or what the circumstances are.

The survey showed that 90% of the respondents would be willing to intervene with friends to help them not ride with a drinking driver, and 70% felt comfortable that their friendships would not be harmed by such intervention.

The survey is...