Published: May 01, 2008 05:42 pm            

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: Heed message on drinking, driving

Consequences not worth risk for teenage drivers

TERRE HAUTE — Adults can’t prevent every prom-season tragedy, but they can increase kids’ chances of making it home safely.

Parents already know the financial commitment the high school ritual entails in the 21st century. Tuxes, dresses, hair-dos, flowers, dinner reservations, tickets, pictures, gas or (for the splurgers) a limo rental. Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.

The cost no one expects, though, is the anguish caused when just one teenager is involved in a drunk-driving accident. It happens in Indiana and Illinois virtually every May.

Schools have reminded students of the dangers of getting into the driver’s seat of a car after having a couple of beers or alcoholic drinks. Last week, Brandon Silveria told a rapt audience at Terre Haute South Vigo High School how a few prom-night beers caused him to crash his car head-on into a tree. Silveria was so severely injured in that crash 21 years ago, his plan to attend Boston College on a full scholarship became impossible.

Still affected by those injuries, Silveria told the students, “Take one look at me and ask yourself, ‘Is it worth those couple of beers?’”

That question also needs to be directed at parents. A troubling statistic emerged from a Wabash Valley quality-of-life survey released last month by Indiana State University sociology students. Of the 492 Vigo County residents who completed the survey, 32 percent considered it OK for underage people to drink with parental supervision. Half of that 32 percent considered it sufficient supervision of children’s drinking if an adult hosted a party where alcohol is served to underage people.

Prom parties, followed by graduation parties later this month, need only one tipsy teen slipping off in a car to produce a catastrophe. A safer choice is alcohol-free post-prom events organized by the schools and monitored by parent groups.

Those South students who heard Silveria’s story have proms coming up May 10 for the juniors at South, and on May 17 for the seniors at Hulman Center. North’s junior prom is May 10 at the Zorah Shrine. West Vigo’s junior-senior prom is May 10 at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Each could be a memorable night for all of the good reasons, if the kids and their parents heed Brandon’s message.

        

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