How to Talk to a Teenager About Drunk Driving
Many teenagers are killed behind the wheel of a car every year. Sadly, many of these deaths were avoidable, and many were caused by drunk driving. In fact, nearly 13,000 deaths are attributed annually to a drunk driver being behind the wheel of a car. The majority of teenagers will have tried drinking before high school graduation, according to Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD). The staggering statistics show that there is an urgent need for immediate dialog between parents and their teenagers. Take a deep breath and get started on having this conversation with your child today.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
-
-
1
Start out the conversation with a casual tone. Let your teenager know that there is something that you would like to discuss. Assure him that he is not in trouble before the conversation begins, or you'll set him on edge before the difficult stuff is even said. Set aside at least 15 minutes where the two of you can talk uninterrupted. This is crucial in order to have a meaningful conversation.
-
2
Ask him what he thinks about drunk driving. Getting his opinion is crucial. Prod to see whether he thinks that the reports are accurate and fair. He may know more about it than you think, or his mind may be greatly influenced by his many partying peers. Let him speak without contradicting or judging him. Although you may realize that some of these opinions need to be changed, the time to change them is not when he is opening up. Let him speak and be genuinely heard if you want him to feel free to open up to you about this and other things in the future.
-
3
Tell him that you have been thinking a lot about the subject. Let him know how much you care about him and his well-being. Talk to him about the statistics on teenage drunk driving. Let him know the stark statistics. Underage drinking is a bigger killer than drugs. There are over a 100,000 trips made to the emergency room every year that are attributed to teenage drinking. It kills 5,000 teenagers alone each year. It's serious. It's major. It's a matter of life or death. This is the truth, and it needs to be the message that your teenager hears.
-
4
Talk about local cases that have occurred. A simple online search or browsing through the local newspaper will probably--unfortunately--supply you with many examples in your own city or town. Bring these situations up to your teenager. Let him know how it is inconceivable for such a thing to happen to him. That is why you want to talk about this before it is ever a problem.
-
5
Assure him that you are talking to him about this because you love him and trust his intelligence and judgment. Your teenager may become nervous or defensive at this point. You know your teen. Every individual needs to be talked to in a different manner when it comes to something this serious. Try to change your tone based on the attitude your teenager takes at this point. Some teenagers will have already heard the statistics in health classes and by well-meaning teachers. Other teens may be shocked, feeling as though the bad things can never happen to someone in his social circle.
-
6
Ask your teenager if he is willing to sign "The Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving." This pledge is available through the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) website that is listed in the Resources section. Signing this with your teen can help you both realize the gravity of the situation and your own commitment to eliminating the problem of drunk driving. Encourage your teenager to stick to this by attending drunk driving awareness meetings together. Volunteer to help out at a local gathering. Hearing stories firsthand will help one avoid drunk driving like nothing else.
-
7
Make a pact with your teenager. Let him know where you stand on the issue of drinking. He is hopefully not allowed to do so. However, in order to fully commit to preventing your teenager from being a victim of drunk driving, he should always be able to reach you if he is in a social situation where he is faced with drunk driving--either by driving himself or getting in the car with someone who is going to have to drive drunk. Establish an open call policy where he can call you from anywhere and get a ride without having to resort to such a deadly solution.
-
8
Thank your teenager for listening to you on the subject. Your teenager is likely to have many more open conversations with you if your practice active listening. Hear what he has to say and respond with understanding and compassion for how he feels about things.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't threaten your teenager regarding his use of alcohol. Let him know that he can always call you for a ride instead of being tempted to drive drunk or ride with peers who are drunk.
