| Parents can attempt to always try and keep their | | | | Remember what the teenage mentality was like |
| children under a watchful eye, never letting them | | | | when you were that age. Teenagers often feel |
| out of their sight; however, they will not always | | | | invincible and that nothing bad can happen to |
| be able to do this. This tactic may work while | | | | them. Young people are too young to understand |
| they are in high school, but what about when | | | | mortality. Oftentimes, it's too late before they |
| they go off to college and begin creating a life of | | | | finally grasp this concept at such a young age; it |
| their own. You will not always be able to keep | | | | usually requires the death of a friend or close |
| watch over your children, nor will you always be | | | | acquaintance before this sinks in. |
| alive. For this reason it is important to teach your | | | | What can be done to fight back against this |
| children about the consequences of drinking and | | | | growing problem? |
| driving, and trust that they will make the right | | | | Many schools have taken the initiative in teaching |
| decisions in life. | | | | about the perils of drunk driving in the classroom, |
| No matter how hard you try to shield your | | | | but still the message is not sinking in. The |
| children from the ills of drinking, there is a good | | | | statistics grow more and more shocking each |
| chance they will be faced with it eventually. Make | | | | year. |
| sure they are prepared when this moment | | | | As a parent, it is ultimately your job to get the |
| arrives. One of the most important things to | | | | message across to your children because it is |
| show your kids is trust. By showing your children | | | | your advice they respect the most. Tell them |
| you have faith and trust in the decisions they | | | | that under no circumstances should they ever get |
| make, they are more apt to make the correct | | | | into a car with a person who has been drinking, |
| choices, so they don't let you down. This could be | | | | even if the person insists they are not drunk. Also |
| a key factor between a weak resolve and a | | | | tell your children that if they decide to drink, then |
| strong one when faced with the peer pressure of | | | | under no circumstances should they ever get |
| drinking alcohol. | | | | behind the wheel. Tell them that it is okay for |
| Now you may be thinking that your kids are well | | | | them to call you for a ride, no matter how late at |
| behaved, that there is no way they would ever | | | | night it is. Also let them know they can do this |
| do such a dangerous thing as drink and drive, but | | | | without repercussions. Don't condone their drinking |
| you may be wrong. It is not necessarily the | | | | if they are underage, but make sure they |
| trouble makers in school drinking and driving, but | | | | understand they can turn to you for help. |
| also the star athletes and head cheerleaders, kids | | | | Vigilance and attentiveness to your children's lives |
| you would never think capable of behaving in such | | | | is the key to avoiding a drunken driving |
| a way, but they do, usually as the result of peer | | | | misfortune. |
| pressure. | | | | |