It is a well-known fact that drinking and driving is the number one killer of teenagers in the nation. Cell phone usage while driving is running a close second, but drinking and driving is still the number one cause. It is very important that you talk to your teenager about the dangers of drinking when driving. While it may be hard to talk to your teen, it is important that you do so for not only their safety, but the safety of others on the road with them.
Read on below for some tips for having this difficult conversation with your teen driver.
Higher Insurance Rates
While not the worst thing that can happen from drinking and driving, higher insurance rates and a suspended license is certainly an expensive one. Make sure to stress the fact that the teen’s insurance rates will skyrocket and that they will lose their license for a certain amount of time, not to mention the fact that they will be spending the night in a cell as well. If you look at SR22 quotes online, you can see how insurance policies for at-risk drivers include higher rates and more restrictions.
Share the Facts and Statistics
Don’t sugar coat the facts. Let your teen know the statistics on deaths that are related to drinking and getting behind the wheel. If you need to pull up images of accidents online and show them to your teen driver, then do so. The shock value will be significant, and it just might save your teen’s life in the future.
Set Clear, Ironclad Rules
There can be no being wishy-washiness when it comes to talking to your teen about the dangers of drinking and then driving home or anywhere else. Set rules that are clear and will not change no matter what. Not only should you stress the dangers of driving while drunk, but stress the dangers of getting into a car with someone that has had even one drink. If you find out that your child is doing either one, put your foot down, ground them, and take their keys as well.
Create a Code
Many teens don’t call their parents to come get them from parties when they have been drinking because they are too embarrassed to do so in front of their friends. If you set up a code word or phrase to use, then they are more likely to call you. Make sure that your teen knows that nothing will be said or done to them if they call you to come pick them up, no matter what time it is. Ensuring your teen driver that calling you is an option and will not result in punishment will go a long way towards keeping them safe.
Stress the Possibility of Death
There are very few teens out there who don’t think they are invincible. The “it can’t happen to me” mentality is common in teenagers. Talk realistically and frankly with your teen about the possibility of him or his friends dying in a drunk driving accident.
These are just a few tips to help you talk to your teen about drinking and driving. From higher insurance rates to the possibility of losing their lives, stress the importance of your kid’s safety for your own peace of mind.