Dictionary definition of “Driving While Teen”

Driving While Teen

n. an offense said to be committed by teenaged automobile drivers who are pulled over by police for (ostensibly) no reason at all. Also DWT. Subjects: English, Automobiles & Transportation

Editorial Note: This, like the similar term DWB ‘driving while Black,’ is probably a play on DWI ‘driving while intoxicated.’ Another similar term, DWO ‘driving while Oriental’ is a derogatory description of the supposed bad driving habits of Asians.

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Citations: 1998 [Matthew T. Russotto] Usenet: rec.autos.tech (June 12) “Re: Drunken-Driving penalties”: “The driver has to drive in a fashion that would cause him to be stopped, intoxicated or not.” “For instance: Scrupulously observing the speed limit. Driving While Teenaged. Driving While Black. Driving While Hispanic.” 1999 G.D. Gearino @ Raleigh, N.C. News & Observer (E1) (Mar. 23) “Why are dads like a police state?”: In fact, my daughter is convinced there’s a traffic offense called DWT: driving while teen. 2000 [Prepaid Millennium Associates] Usenet: alt.business.multi-level (Jan. 7) “Why you don’t need…”: Ever heard of DWF or DWT? Driving while Female. Driving while a Teenager. Are you aware that these two “minority” groups are more likely to be stopped than are adult white males? 2000 Samantha Morin San Diego Union-Tribune (California) (Mar. 17) “Teenagers: The discounted majority” p. B7: How many times have we been stopped on the road for DWT (Driving While Teen-aged)? No matter what guise it appears under, the prevalent message is that teen-agers can’t be trusted. 2003 Reno Gazette-Journal (Nev.) (Feb. 6) “Editorials” p. 9: Is there something else that would make an officer suspicious—“driving while black,” “driving while Hispanic” or even “driving while teenage”? 2005 Ben Westhoff Riverfront Times (St. Louis, Mo.) (Jan. 5) “Christopher Young gives “Loop rats” legal advice—at a deep discount”: “That’s the beauty of being seventeen,” explains Young, who coined the acronym DWT, or Driving While Teen. “You’re allowed to screw up, and you still get second chances.”

Posted 16 Feb 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend