Celebrate Safely
During the holiday season, and year-round, take steps to make sure that you and everyone you celebrate with avoids driving under the influence of alcohol. Following these tips can help you staSpread the word among your friends and family about tips to keep kids safe on the road. Send a health e-card to help them protect the ones they love.
•Plan ahead.
Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins.
•Take the keys.
Don't let friends drive if they are impaired.
•Be a helpful host.
If you're hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver; offer alcohol-free beverages; and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.
Learn more about alcohol-impaired driving and CDC's research and activities in this area.
Know That Parents Are the Key
This holiday season, and throughout the year, talk with your teen about the dangers of driving—and keep the conversation going. CDC also encourages you to take these step to help keep your teen driver safe:
•Extend your teen's supervised driving period. Help your teen develop the skills he or she needs by providing as many supervised practice driving hours as possible. Include at least 30 to 50 hours of practice over at least six months. Make sure to practice on a variety of road conditions and at different times of day.
•Set the rules of the road. Practice driving will empower your teen. But your rules will provide much needed limits to keep him or her safe.
Support the rules that most states have for new teen drivers by including the following:
◦Make sure your teen always wears a seat belt.
◦Limit your teen's nighttime driving.
◦Restrict the number of teen passengers allowed in the car.
Join the conversation about safe teen driving on Facebook
•Enforce the rules with a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement [PDF - 1.55 MB]. Discuss your rules of the road with your teen. Talk about why they are important to follow, as well as consequences for breaking the rules. Work with your teen to draft and sign a parent-teen driving agreement. You may choose to hang yours on the refrigerator door to highlight the importance of safe driving. Let your teen know that following the rules and driving safely will result in greater driving privileges.
Learn more about CDC's Parents Are the Key campaign and research and activities in this area.
More Information
•CDC: Information on Motor Vehicle Safety
•CDC: Information on Child Passenger Safety
•CDC: Information on Impaired Driving
•CDC: Information on Teen Drivers
•Protect the Ones You Love: Road Traffic Injuries
•Task Force on Community Preventive Services and the Community Guide: Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety
•CDC Podcasts on Motor Vehicle Safety
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
