Teen Driving Permits Now Come With Message for Parents

Going back to school for a majority of kids is the start of an exciting new beginning, but is also a challenging time with the added pressure of alcohol and drugs, especially for teens. The dangers of teen alcohol and drug use are also compounded as many teens approach driving age. As a result, the “Speak Now” campaign, spearheaded by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health, has partnered with the Division of Motor Vehicles in an effort to encourage parents of new drivers to start a conversation about alcohol with their teen.

When parents sign an affidavit assuming responsibility for their teen when they get their drivers permit they will also receive an informational bookmark outlining facts and consequences of teen drinking and driving. Data from the 2011 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey indicates nearly 10 percent of 16 and 17 year olds in Colorado have driven a vehicle after drinking, and one out of five high school students has ridden in a car with a driver who had been drinking.

“We knew it was important to get the message out across the state about the consequences of teen drinking in a meaningful way,” said Stan Paprocki, Director of Prevention and Early Intervention for the Colorado Division of Behavioral Health. “Getting a drivers permit is a privilege in a teen’s life, so understanding the repercussions of drinking and driving for both the parent and teen is important.”

While the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data indicates the prevalence of lifetime alcohol use has decreased over the past several years from about 75 percent in 2005 to 65 percent in 2011, it still remains as the state’s largest substance abuse problem among high school students, followed by marijuana (40 percent), and prescription pill (20 percent) usage. When alcohol is mixed with driving, the consequences become even more severe for Colorado teens.

“Driving while impaired by alcohol or any kind of drug is dangerous, often expensive, and can be deadly,” said Laurie Benallo, Operations Director for Driver Licensing. “When a teen gets a permit, the parent assumes financial responsibility for that teen’s actions behind the wheel. It’s important that parents communicate with their teens about the seriousness of the decision to consume and the consequences of impaired driving.”

As teens learn the rules of the road, it is important both they and their parents understand they can face adult consequences such as a DUI, time in jail, community service and a license revocation lasting longer than revocations given to adults.

The campaign efforts will be supported through a statewide media buy, which include billboard, television, internet and radio ads with a mother and son driving in a car, indicating any time is the right time to have a conversation about the dangers of teen drinking.

About Speak Now
The “Speak Now” campaign is part of the Colorado Prevention Partnership for Success (CPPS) statewide underage binge drinking initiative focused on implementing evidence-based substance abuse prevention practices, policies and approaches that build local and state prevention infrastructure in Colorado.

About the Colorado Department of Human Services
The Colorado Department of Human Services assists struggling Colorado families who need food, financial and energy assistance to provide for their families; families in need of safe and affordable child care; children at risk of abuse or neglect; families who struggle to provide care for their adult children with developmental disabilities; youth who have violated the law and need structure and guidance to grow into responsible and compassionate adults; Coloradans who need effective treatment for mental illness or substance abuse issues; and families who need resources to care for their elderly parents or nursing home care for their veteran parents. Our commitment every day is to be “people who help
people.”

CONTACTS
Liz McDonough, Colorado Department
of Human Services, PIO
303-866-5822 (ph), 303-748-6910 (cell)
Shadia Lemus, Webb PR, 303-796-8888