Locally and Nationwide, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for adolescents between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. In North Carolina, one driver under the age of 19 is involved in a crash every 24 minutes In North Carolina. Things influencing the crashes include speed and alcohol use. In North Carolina, One person is killed or injured in an alcohol related crash every 55 minutes. Other factors that seem to correlate with a high rate of teen crashes are nighttime driving, driving with multiple teens in the car, inexperience, and a high risk taking tolerance. Prom season can become a time when for teens, risk taking behavior and poor judgement is increased which puts them at greater risk of injury. It is our hope some of the information provided can help guide teens, parents, schools and communities, decisions in making this season a safer prom season for all. SAFE PROM CHECKLIST

1. Who will drive
2. Where will the teen be? What are the phone numbers?
3. Does your teen know who to contact in case of emergency. Do they have a safe ride number to call.
4. Does your teen know of the situations they may encounter such as being offered alcohol or drugs, being offered a ride by an intoxicated driver, encountering strangers and do they have a plan to handle those situations?
5. Are there designated check in times?
6. Do they understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt and not speeding( if they are driving).
7. Have you called the organizers of the event to see what is planned including numbers of attendees and who is invited, who will be monitoring the event, and what they will do if drinking or violence is suspected.
8. Will someone stay up to ensure their safe arrival home?

• Contrary to what you may hear or see, most teens aren't drinking. 81% of adolescents age 12 to 17 have chosen NOT to drink in the past year. (SAMHSA, 1999)
• You may be alive today because the legal drinking age is 21. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates these laws have saved over 18,820 lives from 1975-1999. (NHTSA, 1999)
• Females process alcohol differently than males; smaller amounts of alcohol are more intoxicating for females regardless of their size. (NHTSA, 1990)
• The same amount of alcohol is in a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 12-ounce wine cooler, and a 5-ounce glass of wine.
• Even though youth are less likely than adults to drive after drinking, their crash rates are substantially higher. (NIAAA, 1996)
• Alcohol in the #1 youth drug problem (CSAP, 1996); it kills 6 times more people under 21 than all other illicit drugs combined. (PIRE, Ted Miller, Ph.D.)
• 70% of teens killed on prom weekends are not wearing seatbelts.( NHTSA)
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury in teenagers nationwide. ( CDC)
• High School students who drink are 7 times more likely to have had sexual intercourse and are less likely to use condoms increasing their risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

For more information about Carolinas Center for Injury Prevention and Control call 704-355-7098.

Mecklenburg Safe Communities
Metrolina Regional Trauma Committee