Prom season highlights safety issues

Prom night promises to be memorable for teens, and parents can help to make sure the memories are all good ones.

Teen drinking is widespread on prom night when, according to a study by Edgar Snyder & Associates, more than 90 percent of teens think their classmates will be drinking on the big night. In fact, 54 percent of students said they have more than four drinks.

And, if they drive, trouble could be brewing.

Teen driving statistics are somewhat shocking:

* In 2016, there were 2,082 teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes.

* In 2016, almost 20 percent of the teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were drinking.

* In 10 percent of fatal crashes involving a teen driver in 2016, the teen driver was distracted at the time of the crash. Texting and friends in the car are implicated here.

The key is preventing teens from drinking and driving.

One solution is renting a limo for a group. The cost is lower when more couples can ride together.

A conversation with your teen can also be helpful. For example, most teen drivers think the blood alcohol limit is around .08. Not true. For drivers under 21, the limit is zero.

Discuss what happens if they are arrested for drinking and driving, which will almost certainly include a memorable night in jail, probably the loss of their drivers license, and certainly court and expenses that can add up to thousands of dollars. For teens who expect to attend competitive colleges, a drunk driving rap can compromise their eligibility for acceptance and scholarships.