The Real Dangers of Teen Drinking and Driving
Teen drinking and driving is a factor in too many fatal alcohol related motor vehicle crashes. While 18% of all alcohol related Motor Vehicle Crash fatalities are attributed to Impaired Driving, alcohol is involved in over 30% of young driver car crashes. This is a fact parents have to face as their teens become independent drivers. And it is frightening.
How to Prevent Teenage Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization that works to prevent drunk driving, offers parents the following suggestions to help prevent teens from drunk driving:
In addition, parents should talk to their teens about drunk driving. Studies have shown that teens whose parents talk to them about alcohol use are far less likely to use than those whose parents do not discuss the issue with them.
What doesn’t work is just giving kids statistics about teenage drunk driving. While it’s important for parents and educators to be aware of the statistics, and it can be useful to share those stats with teens as well, just giving them the numbers doesn’t do the trick. The above steps will work better than simply giving them dry statistics.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization that works to prevent drunk driving, offers parents the following suggestions to help prevent teens from drunk driving:
- Volunteer to help organize a fun, alcohol-free post-prom party at your high school.
- Sign a “contract for life” with your child. This is an agreement that your child will call you anytime they need a ride home, if they or their friends have been drinking. In exchange, you will not ask any questions until a later, calmer time.
- Write letters to local stores that sell alcohol letting them know that you will not patronize any shops that sell alcohol to minors.
- Distribute MADD brochures at your church, your school’s parents’ associations, and other organization (brochures can be downloaded free on their websites, or you can call them).
In addition, parents should talk to their teens about drunk driving. Studies have shown that teens whose parents talk to them about alcohol use are far less likely to use than those whose parents do not discuss the issue with them.
What doesn’t work is just giving kids statistics about teenage drunk driving. While it’s important for parents and educators to be aware of the statistics, and it can be useful to share those stats with teens as well, just giving them the numbers doesn’t do the trick. The above steps will work better than simply giving them dry statistics.