Program helps keep teens safe on prom night

Sunday, March 2, 2003

 

Toronto, Canada - Teen driver car crashes remain the leading cause of permanent injury and fatalities in youth and many fear the prom night as the evening of greatest risk.

 

Gary Direnfeld, executive director of the I Promise Program  - teen safe driving initiative suggests that parents simply remove the thought of driving from their teen’s mind and offers a few alternatives, “Teens can take the bus, organize car pools with parents or use a limousine service.”

 

Some schools are concerned though that if teens use a limousine service, they may be more prone to drinking and carousing but Direnfeld advises, “Limousine services have big dollars tied up in their vehicles and do not want to see them abused by partying teens.” He adds that when using a limousine service, parents include these rules to reduce risk:

 

  1. No booze in the limousine – all packages are inspected and go into the trunk of the vehicle. 
  2. The privacy screen remains open at all times to allow supervision by the driver.
  3. Parents and passengers sign a contract allowing the driver to phone the parents if booze or even the smell of booze is detected.
  4. Each parent of a teen passenger provides a phone or cell-phone contact number.
  5. Only teens registered as passengers are allowed transportation in the limousine.

 

Direnfeld has made a Limousine Contract available for parents to use with their teens and the limousine service on the Prom night. It is available for free at: www.ipromiseprogram.com 

 

The Prom is often the focal point of the senior’s year and it should be remembered for only a wonderful time.

 

For all the other days of the year, parents should consider an annual safe driving agreement such as the I Promise Program.

 

Direnfeld likes to remind parents that safe driving begins with them as role models and next with the expectations they set out for their teens.

 

The I Promise Program is also free for residents of Lancaster, courtesy of Healthy Lancaster.

 

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, Executive Director - I Promise Program
20 Suter Crescent,
Dundas, Ontario, Canada L9H 6R5
(905) 628-4847
gary123@sympatico.ca