Teen Traffic Deaths Increase During Prom and Graduation Season, According to AAA

Prom is a rite of passage and special time for hundreds of high school students across the region. As students and parents alike get ready for their special day, AAA is urging parents to talk to their children about distracted driving and driving under the influence. Teen traffic deaths are higher on the weekends of prom and graduation weekend, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

“There’s the prom. Then there is the prom ‘after-party.’ Prom night is a great opportunity for teens to get dressed up for a night on the town with their friends,” said John Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public & Government Affairs. “Unfortunately, it is also a night when tragedy can strike and change a teen’s life, due to risky behavior, such as driving while impaired or distracted.”

Underage drinking and illegal drug use are among some of the factors that contribute to these traffic incidents.

In 2016, one out of five teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking, according to research conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

To help teens get home safely during this busy season, AAA Mid-Atlantic encourages parents to do the following:

• Talk with your teen about a safe ride home, prom rules, and the consequences for breaking the rules;
• Take an inventory of alcohol and prescription drugs in your home and secure them if hosting a prom party;
• If renting a limo, check the company’s policy on allowing alcohol in the vehicle and talk with the limo driver about your expectations for the evening;
• And set a reasonable curfew for the evening and let your teen know you will wait up for them to return home.

For more information and tips for both parents and teenagers, click here. 

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