Episode 5 - Prom Night Safety: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Despite the focus on glamour, prom night is deemed one of the riskiest nights of high school. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of American teenagers, and one-third of all teen deaths occur in alcohol-related collisions between April and June. To remain protected, safety planning is essential. Teens must strictly avoid the "Fatal Trio": distracted driving, unbuckled passengers (two-thirds of teenagers killed were not wearing a seatbelt), and zero impairment.

We recommend professional transportation (like limos with strict safety protocols) or chaperoned, substance-free after-prom events to reduce risk. After-parties must be vetted, and teens should trust their gut and stick with friends if the vibe feels "off".

For personal safety, teens should have prepared excuses to handle substance pressure, and understand that consent must be clearly verbalized and is revocable at any point. The most vital safety measure is establishing a "No Questions Asked" Guarantee with parents, ensuring the teen can be picked up immediately from any location, without fear of punishment, to prioritize physical safety. This is crucial since 84% of teens believe their friends are more likely to drive impaired than call their parents for a ride.