Three things to discuss with your children before prom

If you’re a parent with teenagers, you know that the prom is a special night for your teen, and while you want them to have a fun and memorable night with their friends, you also want to ensure they stay safe. If your teen is driving on prom night or riding with a friend who is driving, here are three things to discuss with your teen before the big night:

1) Driving under the influence – Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among teens, with one-third of those deaths being alcohol-related, according to the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Avoiding situations with alcohol and drug use is the best way to avoid driving or riding with someone under the influence. Make arrangements to have a designated driver or call someone else for a ride if necessary. There are no worse consequences than injuring or killing yourself or others.

2) Distracted Driving – According to the FCC, distracted driving accounted for 16% of all fatal crashes in 2008 and 21% of accidents involving injuries. Distractions can include texting, talking on the phone, and even scrolling through a playlist on an MP3 player. If your teen will be in a car on prom night, remind them that no text or phone call is worth injuring or killing themselves, their passengers, and others on the road. If they need to call or text someone for directions or to let them know they’re on their way, tell them to pull into a parking lot or a safe area along the road with plenty of room between the vehicle and moving traffic.

3) Passenger Safety – Tell your teen that as a driver, they are responsible for the passengers in the vehicle. Make sure everyone has their seatbelts on before leaving and during all trips. A driver should ensure passengers don’t lean out of windows, throw things from a moving vehicle or engage in other horseplay. Remind your teen never to transport more passengers than there are seatbelts- an overcrowded vehicle is not a safe vehicle. If you’re a parent whose teenager is getting ready for the prom, talk with your Lock Insurance agent about how your insurance coverage works with your teen, and make sure your teen understands the rules you set for them.

Sources:
http://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving