Even with strict laws in place to protect against drunk driving, many people in the state of Texas continue to make this potentially fatal mistake.
As a parent of a teen driver, it’s your responsibility to talk to them about the dangers of drunk driving. This alone isn’t always enough to stop them from driving while under the influence, but it’ll definitely help.
Here’s what you should say:
- Explain the dangers: Share statistics with your children regarding the dangers of drunk driving, as this will open their eyes as to what could happen if they decide to do this.
- Talk about the consequences: In addition to causing an accident, along with serious injury or even death, talk about the penalties in the event of a DWI conviction. This can include everything from a large fine to a license suspension (and that’s just the start).
- Touch on personal experiences: For example, maybe you had a friend who was seriously injured when driving under the influence. Share this story with them, touching on the details, so they can see that they’re not immune.
There’s nothing simple about talking to your teen about the dangers of drunk driving. They may not be 100 percent receptive, and you may have concerns about how you come across.
If your teen makes a mistake and is subsequently arrested for DWI, don’t leave them to figure things out on their own. As a parent, it’s your time to step in, explain to them what went wrong and help minimize the impact of their arrest on their future.