Earlier this month a survey of eleventh and twelfth grade students indicated that 90 percent of their peers
are more likely to drink and drive on prom night, while 79 percent indicated the same for graduation night. Couple this with data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that showed that during the 2007 prom-to-graduation season, there were 380 teen alcohol-related traffic deaths, while in 2008 there were 1,009 total teen traffic-related fatalities for the same period (alcohol and non-alcohol-related).
The survey, released by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) also amplifies an alarming point found here in Porter County: Many students either get their alcohol from their parents, or were allowed by their parents to attend parties where it is known that alcohol would be served. Over one-third of the 2,500 students surveyed for the national study indicated that their parents willingly let them attend a party with alcohol, while 14 percent reported their parents actually furnished the drinks. The 2009 Porter County Epidemiological Profile prepared by Valparaiso University’s Community Research and Service Center, and funded by the Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) initiative indicated that 13.8 percent of high school seniors said their parents approve of their having occasional alcoholic drinks, while another 14.4 percent said they had no idea what their parents would think of it.
The data is clear that the prom-through-graduation season is a high-risk timeframe for teens drinking and driving, and that parents play an important role in the prevention of unnecessary tragedies. It is important that parents and teens have frank discussions on expectations and appropriate behavior heading into this season. In fact, research has shown that formal safe driving contracts between parents and teens have had positive outcomes in reducing risky driving behaviors. Many such contracts can be found in the public domain on the internet.
More importantly, parents need to take responsibility and be accountable and not furnish alcohol or allow their teens to attend parties where it is likely that alcohol will be served. The “it won’t happen to me” attitude is pervasive among teens, and frighteningly, also amongst some parents. Not only are the legal ramifications harsh for parents who are found responsible for providing and/or hosting parties that resulted in a teen death, but the lifetime burden of a tragic mistake is heavy in both the psychological and financial welfare of an individual.
This prom season make the easy decision to be a “tough” parent.