In the first national campaign of its kind, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are targeting underage drinking and driving with a series of public service ads that will appear in California and nationwide. The campaign was announced on Oct. 19 in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Car accidents are the top cause of death among American teens, and almost half of the teens that die in car crashes were the drivers. According to the NHTSA, nearly 25 percent of teens involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes have alcohol in their systems. To combat the issue, the NHTSA and the Ad Council used iPhones to film PSAs that depict underage drinking and driving as the "ultimate party foul." The ads, which will appear on television, social media sites and outdoor banners, will direct people to a Tumblr website that features the consequences of teen drinking and driving and tips on how to avoid it.

The NHTSA and the Ad Council previously teamed up to produce the iconic 1980s "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" ad campaign. They also produced the "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving" ads that began airing in 2005. That campaign is credited with increasing the number of young men who claim they use taxis or public transportation when they are buzzed from 38 percent to 47 percent.

Car accidents cause thousands of serious injuries every year across the United States. A California resident who has been injured in a crash that was caused by a drunk driver, may wish to speak with an attorney. In some cases, a lawsuit could be filed seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.