For many teenagers, the hustle and excitement of prom season is fast approaching. Before the big night arrives, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, REF - Sag Harbor) is encouraging parents and teens to take the Arrive Alive pledge together to ensure that teens get to and from their destinations safely on prom night. The pledge asks teens to promise not to engage in drunk or drugged driving or ride with anyone who has done so, while parents must promise to give their teen a ride home at any time, no questions asked.

“Talking about the dangers of driving under the influence and having a plan before your child rushes off to prom can make a lifesaving difference,” Assemblyman Thiele said. “If these conversations don’t take place, teens might be hesitant to call their parents for a ride, especially if they’re in a situation where people are drinking or using drugs. The Arrive Alive pledge lets teens know they can count on their loved ones to get them home safely no matter what.”

While driving under the influence is not only dangerous, irresponsible and illegal, it can be especially tragic when combined with a lack of driving experience. Teen drivers are three times more likely than more experienced drivers to be in a fatal crash, and drinking alcohol significantly increases this risk. Further, drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 are 17 times more likely to die in a car crash when they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. However, even at a lower BAC, judgment and ability is impaired, as 1 in 5 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had at least some alcohol in their system.[1]

After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in drivers involved in car crashes.[2] In 2017, 12.8 million people drove after using drugs.[3] Marijuana users are about 25% more likely to get into a car accident, and drugs other than alcohol are involved in about 16% of crashes.[4] As discussions about legalizing marijuana have become more mainstream, Assemblyman Thiele notes that spreading awareness about the devastating consequences of driving under the influence is more important now than ever.

To receive a copy of the Arrive Alive pledge, please contact Assemblyman Thiele’s office at 631-537-2583 or by email at Thielef@nyassembly.gov.

[1] cdc.gov/vitalsigns/teendrinkinganddriving

[2] drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/drugged-driving

[3] drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/drugged-driving

[4] cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html