The excitement of prom season is in the air! Girls will be looking beautiful sparkling dresses and shoes, while the guys will be as handsome as ever in their tuxes. It surely will be a night to remember! However, you’ll want to ensure that you’re remembering it for the right reasons, not because of a tragic accident.
Prom Night Safe Driving Tips
Prom is an event many teens look forward to the entire school year. If you’re not planning on renting a car or limo for the night, you need to make sure you remember these prom night safe driving tips so everyone has a fun, safe night. According to the CDC, car accidents are the number one cause of untimely teenage deaths in the United States. In fact, ten teens die every day from injuries due to an avoidable car accident.
Before you get in the car, keep these safe driving tips for prom night in mind:
Insist everyone wears their seatbelt. Your friends may not want to put their seatbelts on because they’re worried about wrinkling their fancy attire. However, buckling up can save lives, so it’s vital everyone in the car is using their seatbelt, no matter how short the distance to prom may be.
Limit the number of riders. It can be tempting to cram as many friends into the car as you can, but this can be very dangerous and distracting to the driver! Two or more teen passengers increases the risk of a fatal crash by three hundred percent!!
Eliminate distractions. Along with limiting the amount of people who are riding in the car, put away the cell phone while you’re driving. To help you not have to fiddle with the radio, before prom night make a “prom playlist” on your MP3 player so you can stay focused on driving and not on searching for that perfect song.
DO NOT drink and drive. This should seem obvious- you know you should never drink and drive. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment and think maybe having just one drink wouldn’t be a big deal. Don’t become another statistic. If you’re the designated driver, be responsible. Lives are in your hands.
Be a defensive driver and follow the rules. Believe it or not, the speed limits were created for your safety. Many of the crashes teen drivers are involved in were caused in part by speeding. As the driver, you owe it to yourself, those in your car and others on the road to drive safely and defensively by following the traffic laws.
Prom night is a celebratory time that too often can be marred by a tragic accident. Have fun, but be responsible and safe while you’re out on the roads.
Drive Team offers some of the best teen driving classes to help you feel confident and in control of your vehicle the day no matter what the occasion. Contact us for more information.