As graduation celebrations near, it provides a good opportunity for families to have conversations around celebrating safely as their teen drivers get behind the wheel.

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Help Your Teen Make the Right Choice: Underage Drunk Driving Is Not Okay!

Drinking and driving don’t mix – and 300,000 accidents a day are related to that deadly combination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  For those drivers under the age of 21, zero-tolerance laws criminalize any driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but getting “caught” is a risk some are willing to take.

As these times of celebration near, it provides a good opportunity for families to have conversations around celebrating safely as their teen drivers get behind the wheel.

Parents

Talk about it - According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD), 74% of kids turn to their parents for guidance on drinking. Talk to your teen about dealing with peer pressure, the dangers of underage drinking and driving, using illegal substances, and contacting you for a ride in situations involving drugs and alcohol.

Underage drinking is illegal, but it is vital that your teen feel comfortable enough to call upon you if they have been drinking and need a ride.  Survivors of auto accidents involving drunk driving often claim the decision to drive home under the influence was an easier choice than dealing with the repercussions of underage drinking by an adult at home.

A 3am phone call from your teen asking for a ride is infinitely better than a 3am phone call from the police or hospital. 

Set the example - You can't always be in the car, but you can keep safety top-of-mind by demonstrating and enforcing habits like wearing a seat belt, not using a cell phone while driving, following the speed limit, and driving sober.

Teens

Set your own limits - Put a limit on the number of friends you ride with.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the risk of fatal crashes increases with each passenger.  

If you’re behind the wheel, you set the tone for the ride.  Driving is a privilege, but it is also a huge responsibility.  Driving distracted by a car full of your friends isn’t worth a life.

Don't Drink/Do Drugs and Drive - Drinking before the age of 21 is illegal, and alcohol and driving should never mix no matter your age.

Don’t be afraid to call an adult for a ride – Your safety is their priority.  Plus, being grounded is better than becoming a statistic.

Seatbelts are the perfect accessory - A little wrinkle in your dress, tux, or graduation gown is hardly worth not buckling up for.  Buckling your seatbelt can save your life and keep you from getting seriously injured.  Not to mention – It's the law!

This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice and/or an authoritative guide.