Here in northern New Jersey, the months of April through June are times of heightened danger for teenagers. Each spring, the teens head down the Shore for spring break, after-prom parties and graduation celebrations. Unfortunately, this influx of young, inexperienced drivers on unfamiliar and often-narrow roads can be a recipe for highway disasters.
Parents may be shocked to discover that a full third of the annual traffic deaths of teenagers occur in the three-month span from April through June. Learn how parents can better protect their teens from harm this spring.
Some harsh statistics
Back in 2022, AAA surveyed teens and discovered, among other things, the following:
- Over 80% of teens admitted that their friends will drive after drinking or taking drugs instead of calling a responsible adult
- More than 30% know of a peer who was charged with DWI
- Almost a third plan to indulge in drugs or alcohol over prom season
If those statistics are sobering, they should be. It’s easy to see the many ways your teen’s prom experience can go south.
How parents can intervene
One way to reduce the risk for teens is for their parents to talk and network among themselves. Double-check teens’ stories to determine whether after-prom parties will be chaperoned and if the teens will have access to drugs or alcohol.
Parents can also help their teenagers establish a code word that they can easily work into any conversation, e.g., sweater, that will alert their parents that they are uncomfortable or even unsafe.
If your child is injured in a spring accident
Sometimes, all parents can do is be there to provide guidance and support after their children suffer injuries in a car accident. Learning more about the rights and responsibilities of New Jersey accident victims is a good place to start.