Texas Driver Safety and Training

Prom is an exciting time for the lives of many teens. Think dresses, tuxedos, corsages and boutonnieres. Almost as exciting as the prom is the post-prom plan. Kids from school might be throwing a party, or they might plan on hanging out after the prom is done. These are prime chances and opportunities for teens to have exposure and access to alcohol. In the rush of things, teens may feel pressured into trying to "fit in."

First of all, teens must understand that underage drinking is never acceptable. The fact is, during prom season, some parents choose to "look the other way," or say things such as "they'll only be kids once." It may be so, but the truth is that underage drinking is very dangerous. Many teens will be driving that night, which makes the combination of alcohol and lack of long-term defensive driving experience even more dangerous and may create consequences that turn a fun, memorable night a tragic one.

Most state organizations already have prom safety campaigns that are focused on the prom. But these are only programs; it is still always up to the teens to make the right decisions for themselves in each situation.

Here are some ideas for pre-prom plans for preventing alcohol:

• Create an itinerary for the night – Chances are, teens will make plans with their friends for activities after the prom. Should there be any changes to the itinerary; make sure that parents are informed.
• Get parents involved – Parents should always be involved in the planning of activities. If the teen is bringing a car, it is a good idea to have a special prom-only addendum in the parent-teen driving contract, outlining the expectations. It also helps to set up contingency plans for the night and plan for ways to get out of bad situations. Parents should look out for texts from teens, should they need to be picked up.
• Be prepared to say no – There's no harm in hanging out with friends, sure, but if possible, choose parties that parents approve of. If offered a drink, be prepared to say no. "It won't hurt," they’ll say, and it won't hurt to pass either, regardless of peer pressure.

Remember that the use of alcohol by teens increase the risk of activities that may result in serious long-term consequences, including:

• Use of other drugs (alcohol is a gateway drug because its use compromises judgment and reduces inhibitions).
• Driving under the influence.
• Alcohol poisoning from binge drinking (teens often binge drink to relax and may participate in drinking games that result in ingestion of large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time).
• Increased sexual activity and multiple sexual partners due to lowered inhibitions, which increases the risk of pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases.
• Exacerbation of underlying, perhaps undiagnosed, mental illness.
• Violence and rape (whether the victim is under the influence or not.
• Suicide.

Planning for an alcohol-free prom may be a challenge, but doing so will help you have a safe, happy prom night.

Labels: alcohol poisoning, avoid dui, binge drinking, driving under the influence, planning for prom, prom night, teen safety

300-or-so students were issued "tickets" after putting on "drunk goggles" in an exercise conducted in Central Texas College. This was done before the week-long break to emphasize the dangers of distracted driving or drunk driving to students.

Conducted by the CTC Substance Abuse Resource Center, they put the UNITE Aware DUI Simulator to good use. The simulator, allows for students to maneuver a vehicle in a virtual space while emulating the effects of driving under the influence, or driving distracted. Students controlled the vehicle via gas pedals and the wheel.

Most students who tried the simulator ended up getting "tickets" for various driving mistakes, which in real life would translate to dangerous driving situations.

Students were asked to sign a pledge to not text and drive, and they were also given blue thumb rings with “NO TXTING” printed on them, to hopefully carry the message with them.

During the 9 AM to 3 PM activity, the CTC Substance Abuse Resource Center reports that the turnout for this year surpassed the numbers last year. Which is considered a good result --- it means that more and more students, especially teen drivers are willing to learn about driving safety.

Labels: distracted driving, driving under the influence, drunk driving, texting, texting and driving, traffic tickets

Unlike most other states that have a single DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) law, the State of Texas has both a DUI and a DWI law and there are important distinctions between the two. The main thing to remember is that the distinction between the DUI and DWI laws depends on the age of the driver.

DUI

In Texas, the DUI law applies only to minors under the age of 21. Texas, like every other state has a Zero Tolerance Law that prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from consuming alcohol. These Zero Tolerance Laws apply not only to teen drivers but in non-driving situations as well. Where Texas differs from most other states is in the legal measurement of the amount of alcohol consumed. Most states require that the police measure a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .02 to charge a minor with a violation of the law. The Texas law however, calls for charging a minor with violation of the law for "any detectible amount" of alcohol; a very low standard.

A minor charged under this law will have their driver's license automatically suspended for a period of:

• 60 days for a first offense
• 120 days for a second offense
• 180 days for a third or subsequent offense

A minor whose license has been suspended under this law is not eligible to apply for an occupational license (commonly known as a hardship license) for:

• 30 days for a first offense
• 90 days for a second offense
• The entire period of the suspension for a third or subsequent offense

DWI

The Texas DWI law is in line with the DUI laws of most other states but it applies only to adults over the age of 21. The legal limit where a driver is presumed too drunk to drive is .08 BAC. Remember though, that a driver doesn't have to register a .08 BAC to be arrested for DUI. If, in the opinion of the arresting officer, the driver is acting in a way that shows he or she is incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle due to any amount of alcohol or drug consumption, that driver can still be arrested under the DWI law.

Help keep you and other motorists safe by reading our article 7 Ways to Avoid a DUI.

Labels: avoid dui, BAC, blood alcohol level, driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, dui, dui laws, dwi, texas dui, texas dwi