According to the Centers for Disease Control, motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of teens in the United States. As we get into the peak of homecoming season, it’s important for parents and teens to work together to make sure that everyone comes home safely from the dance.
Here are some safety and planning tips to make this homecoming a memorable one, for the right reasons.
Before Homecoming:
Practice! Has your teen ever driven the route from home to their date’s house, to the restaurant, to the school, and back? Have they driven it at night? There’s a big difference between driving a route after school in the daylight and driving it on a dark Fall night.
Take a test drive with them in advance. Make sure it’s around the same time of day that they’ll be driving to and from the dance, so they’ll be comfortable with the route and the road and lighting conditions.
Emergency Plan. Teens are often afraid to look like a ‘tattle tale‘ and may not take action, even when they don’t feel safe. It’s a good idea to establish a code word that they can text or use in a phone call to alert you that they need to be picked up right away. Take the time before homecoming to work out the details, so that both you and your teen know the plan before you need it.
There are several, free smartphone safety apps that can notify friends or family that your teen needs immediate help or is in a dangerous situation. Here is a review of a few of these apps where you can find out if any are of value to you.
A suggestion from one of our Claims Managers here at MAIF, is to have a family friend available if your teen needs a ride. Teens may be hesitant to call Mom and Dad for fear of getting in trouble, so having someone else who they trust will make your teen more likely to do the right thing.
Also as part of this plan, make sure to account for a dead cell phone battery. Teens should take their charger with them. Parents should also have the cell phone numbers of everyone their teens will be with before and after homecoming, so they can be reached through their friends’ phones.
Curfew. Make sure that your teen and their date know what time they are expected home. Since most teens are still on provisional driver’s licenses, the curfew built into the rules of the license make it easy to set that time. When you take the test drive of the route, make sure your teen driver knows how much time he or she must allow to drop off their date and to get home safely before curfew
Buckle Up. “The seat belt is wrinkling my dress,” or “it’s crushing my suit jacket” are not excuses to skip wearing a seat belt. Seat belts save lives and wearing them is mandated by the law, so click it or get a ticket.
No Texting and Driving! According to Distraction.gov, ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. Make sure that your teens know to Park The Phone when driving, or if they’re the passenger, to say something to the driver or offer to send the text for them.
After Homecoming:
No Alcohol or Drugs! It goes without saying that anyone attending a high school homecoming dance is too young to drink. Regardless of age, it’s illegal to drink or use drugs and drive. However, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 22% of the young drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2010 had been drinking. Make sure your teen knows not to get into a car with anyone who has been drinking or is otherwise impaired, under any circumstances. Teens may feel pressure to get in the car with their date or whoever drove them to the dance or party, especially if it’s getting close to curfew. Remind them that this is exactly the scenario that the Emergency Plan (above) is for, and to call or text.
After Party? It’s important to know where your teen and their date or friends are going after the dance. Is there a party and will there be adult supervision? Make sure to touch base with the parents of the party host to make sure that there will be no alcohol available and exchange contact information.
With good communication, a little planning, firm expectations and guidelines, and lots of cooperation, parents and teens can both have a fun, memorable, and safe homecoming night.
