By Dr. Michele BorbaWould your teen get into a car with a friend who's been drinking? Thanks to hidden cameras, a number of parents were able to see the answer to that question. TODAY contributor Michele Borba has advice on what you can do to keep your teen safe.
Alcohol-related car crashes are the number one killer of teens. These next two months, with graduation and proms, are especially dangerous times. You might think, "My kid would never drink and drive or get in the car with an intoxicated peer." But Dateline found that most teens do.
A Liberty Mutual/SADD 2011 Teen Driving Report found these troubling stats:
• One in five teens admit driving under the influence of marijuana
• One in four teens say they would take a ride from a driver who was high on marijuana or prescription drugs
• One in eight teens say being impaired by marijuana is not distracting while driving.
Let's be clear: we know peer pressure is huge. Teens want to fit in, and alcohol and marijuana are easily accessible. Adolescence has always been a time of experimentation. But the choices parents make and the conversations you have with your teen matter. Research shows there are parenting strategies to lower risky behaviors; here are critical tips to boost your teen's safety and your sanity.
1. Set clear rules against drinking
A study of over 1000 teens found that teens with "hands on" parents who establish clear behavior expectations, monitor their teens comings and goings, and aren't afraid to say no are four times less likely to engage in risky behaviors like drinking and driving. Feel free to be strict without feeling guilty. It makes no difference whether your teen has a driver's license or a car -- peers do. So stress one rule: "NEVER ever drink and drive."
Continue Reading: msnbc.com
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