Drunk Driving Prevention Tips for Concerned Parents

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Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers offer drunk driving prevention tips for parents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are the number one cause of death among teenagers. Unfortunately, many of these fatal accidents are the result of drunk driving, and the number of teens who are experimenting with drugs and alcohol continues to grow.

When you combine underage alcohol consumption with inexperience behind the wheel, texting or talking on the phone while driving, and interacting with other passengers in the vehicle, it can have potentially devastating consequences.

Parents who want to keep their children safe and sober are urged to discuss the following safety tips with their teen drivers, and remind them about the dangers of drinking and driving:

Tips for Teen Drivers

  • For special events like prom night and graduation, carpool with friends, or arrange a ride with a limousine or car service.
  • Choose a designated driver before going out.
  • Do not give in to peer pressure if you are not comfortable with drinking alcohol.
  • Always wear your seat belt when driving. It will protect you against an impaired driver, and could save your life in an accident.
  • Take public transportation, Uber or Lyft home from a party if you have been drinking.
  • Avoid drinking if you will be driving. Even one alcoholic beverage can cloud your judgment and impact your ability to react quickly to a potentially dangerous situation.
  • Offer to pay the fare for a cab, or ridesharing service, so that you and your friends can get home safe.
  • Ideally, you should avoid underage drinking altogether. Stick to soda, seltzer, coffee, or some other non-alcoholic beverage instead. Alcohol is not necessary to have a good time.

Tips for Parents

  • Discuss the risks of drinking and driving, and strongly discourage your child from drinking.
  • Never serve alcohol to minors.
  • Make sure you know where your teen is going, and what time he or she is expected to be home.
  • Tell your child that you will always pick him or her up if their ride has been drinking.
  • Model the behavior you want to see in your child. Never drive after you have had even one drink.
  • Discuss the consequences of drunk driving, both to your child and the other teens they may be with. In addition to the potential injuries and fatalities, your teen should be aware of the legal implications of drunk driving.
  • Keep all alcoholic beverages in the home locked up, so that underage teens do not have access to it.
  • Talk to other parents about preventing unsupervised parties. If parents are home during a party, teens are far less likely to drink alcohol.
  • Keep the lines of communication open between you and your children. Establish clear expectations, including curfews, how they are getting home, and the punishment for breaking the rules. 

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident involving a teen driver who was under the influence of alcohol, contact the Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton at your earliest convenience. Drunk driving continues to be a major problem among teen drivers. We will protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.