Dangers Of Drinking And Driving

The leading cause of death among young aged 15 and 24 is drunk driving and so educating your teenagers about the dangers of drinking and driving is particularly important not only for their own protection, but for the protection of users the road and pedestrians.

The first mistake many parents make in this field is to assume that they did not need to raise the issue until their own teenagers learn to drive. You do not need to be driving a car to understand the hazards of driving while impaired and, like everything that you teach your children, the sooner they learn the lessons are more likely to follow.

When it comes to the consequences of driving while impaired adolescents need to understand what it means to kill another person on the road and the devastating impact it can have on their family and friends. But they must also understand that many people are injured as a result of driving while impaired and they and their families may have to live with the consequences of severe injuries for the rest of their lives. This is not always easy for a teenager to understand, but it's a lesson they need to learn.

It is also important for teenagers to better understand the consequences of being caught driving a car while intoxicated. Then, discover the drunk driving laws of your state and make clear the consequences of a conviction for drunk driving. Tell them that drinking and driving conviction can only land them in jail, but can also destroy their career prospects and prevent them from finding a good job.

Despite your best efforts, it is still quite possible that your teen will be in the position of having had too much to drink when he came out with the car and being caught driving the car dealer when he knows he is not fit to do so, or you receive a call and get called out to be as irresponsible. So, it's also something you need to discuss with him before it happens.

Remember, we all do stupid things when we are young and most importantly, stay safe, learn our lesson and live to try again next time. So if your child is in this position, he must know that you can call any state he is in or what time of day or night it is to come get him.

This does not mean you are condoning his actions to get drunk or he should not be punished for his irresponsibility. But your first job is to keep safe and make him understand that he made the right decision, good sense and maturity by asking for help.

Finally remember that there is no better way to teach your children everything by your own example and that means ensuring that you never drink and drive yourself. If your children see you leave your car keys at home and take a taxi to go to a party then they will follow.