Students urged to be cautious for prom night

Special to the Banner

Published April 26, 2002 10:22 AM EDT

Many high school students across our community are eagerly awaiting the big night. Tuxedos have been sized, flowers ordered, cars waxed, and the perfect pair of shoes have been selected.

Some of the most memorable times in our lives have been prom nights.

Bradley County Sheriff Dan Gilley and the School Resource Officers Program have a few safety tips to help not only the teens, but also the parents prepare for this big occasion.

Bradley County has recorded 11 traffic fatalities for the year. Gilley said, "We are very concerned about this weekend with many of our teens traveling to Chattanooga to enjoy their high school prom. My message is clear, don't be No. 12, slow down, don't use the cell phone, pay attention, come home safe."

Sgts. Jerry Johnson and Clint Denny from Bradley High School and Walker Valley High School respectively have been hard at work this week promoting prom night safety. These dedicated officers will be accompanying the teens to the prom.

Prom night and graduation parties represents a high-risk time for these young debutantes, and parents should be prepared. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that at age 16, which is the highest risk age for drivers, 48 percent of deaths were passengers and slightly more 16-year-old females were killed as passengers than as drivers.

More females will be a passenger of a male teen driver on prom night than any other time of the year across North America. Speeding, alcohol use, multiple passengers and driving between midnight and 3 a.m. represents the deadliest combination of factors and is the prime recipe for car crashes.

In year 2000, 34 percent of male drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding. In 2000, 23 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes were also intoxicated. Between midnight and 3 a.m., 77 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal accidents were intoxicated.

Parents who want to reduce the risk of their child's involvement in a car crash should do the following:

* Check your brakes and brake fluid. Teenagers speed the most. While teens are interested in how fast the car can go, parents should be interested in how well the car can stop. Make sure your vehicle is in its best mechanical shape if your teen is taking to the wheel.

* Limit the number of passengers your teen is allowed to transport. The risk of a car crash goes up exponentially for each passenger added.

* Be a good role model and do not drink and drive yourself. Teens are very sensitive to hypocrisy and determine their behavior by what they observe in their parent, not by what the parent says. Tell you teen not to drink and drive and lead by example.

* Insist that your teen and all passengers wear their seat belts and again, lead by example.

* Do not allow your teen to drive after midnight. If transportation is required after midnight, make alternate arrangements. Act as chauffeur, car pool with another parent or arrange for a taxi. It is better that the parent loose one nights sleep that the life of their child.

Remember, the Prom is but one night a year. To be really safe, parents must concern themselves with teen driver safety 365 days a year. Even with Prom night occurring in the spring, most fatal car crashes actually occur in the summertime. Safe driving doesn't take a holiday.

To ensure safe driving year round, parents are recommended to participate in safe driving programs such as the "I Promise" program. The "I Promise" program has parents and teens enter into a mutual safe driving contract and then provides a means for their mutual accountability.

Contract Sample Items Include: I promise to drive sober; I promise to wear my seat belt; I promise to drive defensively; I promise to keep my mind on the road.

See; www.ipromiseprogram.com