As the school year winds to a close, the celebrations ramp up as young people attend proms and celebrate graduations. Some of these celebrations could involve alcohol and underage drinking, which could lead to charges of underage DUI. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that car accidents involving an alcohol-impaired driver increase in April, May and June.
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is trying to get the word out to students to be safe while having fun at prom and graduation. The group reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Thirty-six percent of car accidents that kill young people ages 15-20 are alcohol-related.
SADD offers tips for parents and teens to stay safe over the next few months and beyond. SADD recommends that parents keep communication lines open with their teens and to make a point to talk about drugs and alcohol. Students should also have rules and expectations set out by parents around prom and graduations parties and events. Parents should never supply drugs and alcohol to teens, even if they are supervising them and they shouldn’t rent a hotel room for their teen.
Parents should also know what their teens’ plans are and who will be driving, and they should communicate with other parents to find out what the plan is and what rules the other parents have set. Parents should stay up until their teens return and make sure they made their curfew.
Source:
Prom, graduation season accelerates dangers of underage drinking, drugs (Evansville Courier & Press)