12 Tips for Driving on Prom Night Every Parent and Teen Should Read

Prom is a special night for high school students to celebrate the end of the school year. Students all over the country spend hundreds of dollars — from corsage to tuxedo — to make the evening a special one.

Sadly, every year Americans hear reports of prom-goers getting into car accidents as a result of drinking and driving. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, with the help of Nationwide, has worked passionately since 1980 to lower these statistics. It's been a successful campaign, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reports that drinking and driving among teens dropped 35% from 1990 to 2005.

In addition to drinking and driving, accidents can happen any time students are distracted, even for just a few seconds, or because they are wearing clothing that doesn't allow them to move freely. Prom season is a good time to revisit a few easy-to-follow tips to keep this special night safe.

For teens:

• Always wear your seatbelt and make sure everyone in the car does, too.
  
  
• Concentrate and drive defensively. There are likely to be a lot of impaired drivers on the road prom night.
  
  
• Have directions to the dance — even drive by the location during daylight hours — if the prom is not held at your school so you know where you're going.
  
  
• Understand that the average vehicle weighs 3,000 pounds. It may be easy to drive, but it's still a heavy hunk of metal.
  
  
• Never allow someone who has been drinking to drive, no matter how confident the driver is about his abilities. It's not worth the risk.
  
  
• Remember that tired drivers are dangerous, too. If you're barely awake, you shouldn't be behind the wheel.
  
  
• Call home to get a ride. No matter what time it is, parents would rather pick you up than have you drive in a dangerous situation.
  
  
• Take your cell phone to prom so you have one in case of emergency.
  
  
• Take a spare pair of comfortable shoes with you for driving so you don't have to hit the brakes while wearing unfamiliar high heels or bulky dress shoes.

And for parents:

• Make sure you know where your child is going to be during prom and at the after-prom parties.
  
  
• Don't allow too many prom-goers into one vehicle. (More passengers means more distractions.)
  
  
• Consider a limo or an adult driver to chauffeur students — someone who has more experience driving at night and someone who is not hopped up on prom night adrenaline.

Learn more about MADD's THINK Program (previously Prom Promise).