DA Leone Discusses Prom Safety Tips For Parents And Students

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone was a guest on the FOX25 Morning News to discuss how students can stay safe by making healthy choices to not drink and drive or get into a car with an impair driver during prom and graduation season.

Statistics show that car crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15-20 and that there is a dramatic increase in alcohol-related traffic fatalities during the prom and graduation season. 

For the 5th year, DA Leone and the Superintendents of the schools in Middlesex County sent out letters with advice intended to help parents and caretakers protect their children from the dangers of drinking and driving during this year's prom and graduation season.  The joint letter, which is being distributed to parents and caretakers of 12th graders in Middlesex County, offers parents a number of proactive steps that they can take to help prevent their children and others from getting behind the wheel while impaired and from getting in a car with an impaired driver. 

D.A. Leone offers these alternatives to parents and teens during this prom season:

• Offer your teens transportation alternatives. Offer to provide your teen rides or to have a sibling or family friend provide rides on prom night. If your teen does not want you to pick them up, oftentimes suggesting a sibling or family friend is a great compromise.
• If you are able to, hire or share professional transportation for your teen’s prom night.  Make sure you have a discussion with the driver prior to prom night about your expectations that the ride be alcohol-free.  Sometimes these drivers will agree to purchase or furnish alcohol for their minor passengers; it is important to ensure that this will not happen by talking directly with the driver.
• Provide your teen with the phone number of a reputable local taxi company and make plans to pay for your teen’s taxi fare for the night.  Remember, this is a small cost to keep your child safe.
• Give your teen a cell phone or other mobile device to communicate with you directly throughout the night.  Make sure your own cell phone or mobile device is with you during the evening to facilitate texts or quick calls to check in.

In the letter, D.A. Leone and the superintendents also remind parents that they can be held liable if they choose to host a party for teens where alcohol is served and then have one of their guests harm themselves or others by the negligent operation of a motor vehicle due to alcohol consumption.   
 

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