Get clear, practical support on how to talk to teens about drunk driving, set firm driving safety rules about alcohol and drugs, and reduce the risk of impaired driving before a dangerous situation happens.
About this assessment
Share how confident you feel about your teen’s choices around drinking, drug use, and riding with others, and we’ll help you identify next steps to strengthen your family’s driving safety plan.
Teens are still developing judgment, impulse control, and decision-making skills, especially in social situations involving friends, parties, alcohol, or drugs. That is why parent guidance plays a major role in preventing teens from driving after drinking or using substances. A calm, direct conversation about expectations, consequences, and safe alternatives can lower risk and make it easier for your teen to call for help when they need it.
Explain that driving under the influence includes alcohol, marijuana, prescription misuse, and any substance that affects reaction time, attention, or judgment. Clear language helps teens understand that drugged driving is just as serious as drunk driving.
Tell your teen never to ride with a driver who has been drinking, using drugs, or seems impaired. Give them a simple exit plan, such as texting a code word or calling you anytime for a ride without arguing in the moment.
Review the safety, legal, school, sports, and financial consequences of teen impaired driving. Teens are more likely to remember rules when they understand how one decision can affect their license, future opportunities, and someone else’s life.
Set teen driving rules for alcohol and drugs in writing. Include no driving after any drinking or drug use, no riding with impaired drivers, and what your teen should do if they feel unsafe or pressured.
Make sure your teen knows exactly how to get home safely from a party, game, or friend’s house. Identify trusted adults, rideshare rules if appropriate, and when to call you immediately.
One talk is rarely enough. Bring up teen driving under the influence safety before weekends, dances, holidays, and other high-risk events so expectations stay fresh and realistic.
Pay attention to unexplained dents, traffic tickets, secrecy about where they were, or reluctance to discuss who they were with. These signs do not prove impaired driving, but they can signal a need for a closer conversation.
Notice patterns such as smelling like alcohol or marijuana, bloodshot eyes, sudden mood changes, or attempts to hide clothing or belongings after going out. These may point to alcohol or drug use that could affect driving safety.
If your teen spends time with friends who joke about drinking, use substances, or dismiss driving rules, the risk increases. Ask who they ride with, how they get home, and what they would do if a driver seemed impaired.
Every family starts from a different place. Some parents want help starting the conversation. Others need support setting consequences, spotting warning signs, or figuring out how to prevent teen drugged driving without escalating conflict. A short assessment can help you focus on the areas that matter most for your teen right now.
Keep the conversation calm, direct, and specific. Ask what they see among friends, explain your family rules about alcohol and drugs, and focus on safety rather than lectures. Teens respond better when they know exactly what you expect and what they should do in a risky situation.
Strong rules include no driving after any drinking or drug use, no riding with anyone who may be impaired, and calling a parent or trusted adult for a ride at any time. It also helps to explain the consequences for breaking the rules and the support available for making a safe choice.
Prevention works best when you plan ahead. Set expectations before events, agree on a no-questions-asked ride home option, and review what your teen should do if friends are drinking or using drugs. Repeating the plan before high-risk situations makes it easier for teens to act on it.
Address it quickly and calmly. Ask about what happened, remove access to driving if needed, and review your safety rules and consequences. If you are seeing repeated warning signs related to alcohol or drug use, consider getting additional support from a pediatrician, counselor, or substance use professional.
Yes. Marijuana, prescription misuse, and other substances can affect reaction time, coordination, attention, and judgment even when a teen believes they are okay to drive. Make it clear that any substance-related impairment makes driving unsafe.
Personalized assessment
Answer a few questions to get personalized guidance on talking with your teen, setting alcohol and drug driving rules, and reducing the chances of unsafe decisions on the road.