Prom Night Requires Parents' Promise

Business Wire, May 3, 1999

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

By Thomas A. Taylor

As parents, we all have memories of the years spent raising our children - the first day of school, interscholastic games, and prom dances. Historically, prom season has been a time filled with celebration, joy, and festivities. Unfortunately it is also a time of unnecessary, and sometimes fatal, accidents often due to drinking and driving.

With prom season approaching, it's more important than ever to apply what we know as parents to limit the most preventable accidents - those related to alcohol. Alcohol-related crashes exact an enormous human toll on society. Even the tremendous monetary and societal impact pales in comparison to the sorrow of losing one of our children.

Let's pay close attention to the facts. Eight young people a day die in alcohol-related car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 40% of all 16- to 20-year-old deaths result from motor vehicle crashes, almost half of which are alcohol related. In fact, statistics provided by the NHTSA in 1997 showed at least 47 percent of total traffic fatalities in Massachusetts were alcohol related. Every one of these accidents could have been prevented.

For years, parents, teachers, and numerous other members of the community have expressed opposition to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. While this is a start, more is needed. At Amica, we know that it is not enough to assume a passive role and simply express disapproval of drinking and driving. Students, parents, and the community need to work together to help make a real difference. Here are some ways we can help our teenagers resist the temptation of drinking and driving during prom season:

-- Education and awareness - Education is the key to helping our teenagers become aware of the consequences of their actions. Making teenagers aware of the facts will help them realize that drinking and driving is not a game but could become a life or death decision.

-- Post-prom events - Take the initiative to plan a substance-free post-prom activity, perhaps in conjunction with a local SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) representative or a senior class faculty advisor from a local high school. By creating a fun, substance-free environment, we can avoid dangerous situations. For the second year in a row, Amica will be embarking on a safety awareness campaign in an effort to save lives. As part of this campaign, Amica will be sponsoring post-prom events at high schools across the nation, including local high schools in the Boston area. Hopefully, this will spark other companies to act as corporate sponsors in supporting similar activities.

-- Commitment to safety - The bottom line is that safe drivers are involved in fewer accidents. You can help children be safer drivers by helping them make informed choices. For example, signing a contract such as a SADD Prom Pledge is a good indication that a teenager will think twice before accepting an alcoholic beverage and getting behind the wheel of an automobile. Let's make every possible effort to support organizations committed to safety such as SADD and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

Prom night should mark the beginning of young adulthood, not the end of a teenager's life. Alcohol-related accidents are preventable, and post-prom events can help decrease the incidence of teenagers deciding to drink and drive on prom night. Please get involved - make a promise to keep prom night a celebratory occasion filled with joy and festivities, not tragedy. You can make a true difference.

Thomas A. Taylor is President and Chief Executive Officer of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, headquartered in Lincoln, R.I. He and his wife have two children, a son and a daughter.