Have an open dialog with your kids - Even with our pre-prom red carpet reception and bus transportation to the venue, drunk driving is something we still need to keep in mind. Talk to them about the risks and ask them to sign a safe driver contract like the one found here.
Consider the costs if hosting an after party - Alcohol often plays a part in post prom celebrations (take a look at our Prom by the Numbers graphic below). Even if you make it clear that the party will not provide alcohol, you could be held liable if someone leaves your home drunk and gets into an accident. Especially if the kids involved are underage.
Distracted driving is also a danger - AAA did a video analysis of the six seconds leading up to the crashes of 1,700 teen drivers. The results show that 58 percent of all crashes had distraction as a factor. This issue goes beyond texting. Adding one additional passenger to the car doubles a teen’s risk of crashing. It is certainly worth considering renting a limo for any after party transportation!
The bottom line is that parents need to protect themselves. It is important to have a sizeable Personal Umbrella policy. Denise Koslowsky, principal of Advocate Brokerage Group in Scarsdale said “the largest claims we see are, sadly, teenagers doing something stupid. You need to be sure you have a sizeable Personal Umbrella policy, also known as Excess Liability.”
Prom By the Numbers*:
- $978 - Amount of Money he average household spends on prom
- 56% - Percentage of the bill covered by parents. On average, dads spend twice as much as mothers.
- 44% - Students who say they are likely to drink on prom night.
- 88% - Students more likely to drive home than call home for a ride after drinking
*According to a 2014 survey from Visa and a survey done by AAA.