Prom night should be a fun and memorable occasion, but it should be a safe occasion as well. Sending your sweet teen off on his or her big night might seem a terrifying thought, especially with all the safety issues that come swirling into your head, and your teen could be but just as nervous as you, but it’s probably not for the same reasons.

Think back to when you were a teen on your prom night. Safety probably wasn’t one of the big worries on your mind. Thoughts about the car you were going to drive, the dress or the tux you were going to wear, where you were going to dinner, and where the after party was going to be were all flowing through your mind, but there probably were many thoughts about safety. This is why it is your job as a parent to prepare and look out for your teen’s best interest on this special night, and here are a few tips and ideas for how you can do so.


Reminders Are Key

Even though your kid has probably “heard it all before,” it’s time to go through it one more time. From not drinking and driving to obeying the speed limit and buckling their seatbelts, reminders can be key to the safety of your child on prom night. And while not all of what you’re saying might be sinking in through the excitement of the occasion, you never know what minor reminder could save your child’s life.

Review Consequences

Knowing what will happen to them, not only from you, but from the legal and financial side of things should they be involved in an accident or be caught drinking and driving can be an important aspect of keeping your teen safe on prom night. Do a quick search with your teen of state penalties for underage drinking and driving. This alone should be enough to keep them from behind the wheel if they do decide to drink. Safe sex, safe driving, drug and alcohol consumption, and similar dangerous teen behavior could all be topics for discussion when it comes to rules and boundaries, both legal and your own.

Know Their Schedule

Having an idea of what your teen will be up to, where your teen will be and when can provide you with peace of mind and help keep tabs on them throughout the night. While they might not appreciate you calling them nonstop to check up on them, at least having the ability to get in contact with them should the situation call for it, especially if they have plans after the prom is over, can be a good idea.

Communication is Key

Knowing your teen’s schedule can be important, but if you don’t have a way to get in contact with him or her, or vice versa, this information may not be worth much. Even if you aren’t a big proponent of your teen having a cell phone, this might be an exception to the rule. Even if you just run out and buy a cheap pay-as-you-go cell phone, having the option to call or text your teen or for them to do the same, could keep your worries throughout the evening to a minimum.

Driving Options

If you don’t want to chance your teen or one of their friends doing something silly while behind the wheel of a vehicle, it could be worth considering renting a limo or car service for the evening. If this is a bit outside your budget, at least providing your teen with a list of taxi services, or family and friend phone numbers to contact should they need a safe driver, could give them options (other than you) that they might feel more comfortable contacting in a bind.

Billy Skinner is a criminal lawyer in Houston  that represents clients charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. To visit his criminal law blog or learn more about his areas of practice, go to http://www.billyskinnerlaw.com/.