Is your teen looking forward to prom?
Prom season is in full swing in Pennsylvania and will remain so until June. However, it’s easy for it to end up overshadowed by tragedy when an accident happens on the road while teens are traveling to or from their dance.
Sit your teenager down and discuss some rules of the road before prom night gets here. Some of the rules you need to establish include:
- Everyone will wear a seatbelt — wrinkled clothing aside. Safety is more important than a few wrinkles.
- There will be a limited number of teens allowed in the car — and you will approve who is in the car in advance.
- Explain the importance of concentration behind the wheel. All teens who will be in the car should put their phones away and hold off on pictures while they’re en route.
- Discuss the dangers of drinking and driving. Get a promise from your teenager that they won’t drink and drive — even if that means making a deal that you’ll give your teen a ride home (no questions asked and no punishment) if necessary.
- Talk about the need to control the natural exuberance of the night and keep to the posted speed limit. It’s an exciting night — but high speeds lead to unnecessary accidents.
You also want to make certain that you know your teen’s full itinerary for the night — including where any after-parties are located. You should also have the cellphone numbers of their closest friends — just in case there’s an emergency and your child isn’t answering.
If your child is involved in a car accident on prom night, it’s important to protect their legal rights. A single car accident can lead to a lifetime of problems.