"Mom, I NEED Money for a Lawyer"

Thoughts on Teens Drinking and Driving

In the Spring of 2006, I received a phone call from my son who was living with his father in another state, "Mom, I need money for a lawyer."

My son was a couple of months shy of 18.  He started working for a businessman who attended his church.  One late night, my son and another employee hung out at work - drinking and talking.  When it was time to head home, my son realized his coworker was too drunk to drive.  He decided to take him home using the company's truck.  Little did he realize, he was too drunk to drive.  As would happen they were in an accident on the freeway.

My son was arrested and hauled down to jail where he had to call his father for a ride home. 

He was charged with a DUI.  He thought he was being a "good Samaritan" in driving a drunk coworker home.  He minimized the impact alcohol had on himself.  Next he had to hire a lawyer, go to court, pay fines, attend a DUI school. He lost his license and ended up having a probationary period.  All for a night of fun . . . drinking after work.

Drunk driving is the symptom.

Alcohol abuse is the problem.

According to Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD): "10,839 people will die in drunk driving crashes - one every 50 minutes and teenagers between 15 - 20 years old have about 20% more fatal car wrecks than any other age group."

So HOW can your teenager stay safe behind the wheel?

Here are some things you can do as a parent:

* Have your teen take a driver's education class.

* Practice driving with your teenager.

* Teach your teen safe driving principles.

* Guide your teen in how to manage road hazards.

* Educate your teen on the effects of alcohol and drugs.

Enforce driving rules:

* Absolutely no drinking and driving.

* No driving after a certain hour.

* Call for a ride instead of getting in a car with a drunk driver.

* No texting while driving.

* Always wear a seat belt.

Because the chance of a deadly crash occurring with each passenger increases, it is critical for parents to set limits with their teen on the number of passengers in a car.  It is also helpful to limit driving at night and on weekends for the same reason.

Getting a driver's license is an American right of passage.  Let's work together to make sure our teens drive responsibly.

For more information on this topic, check out MADD at www.madd.org

www.stages2change.com