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<p>Put down your cellphone, kid, there&#8217;s something we want to tell you.</p><p>You&#8217;re about to go to your high school prom, which, for grownups like us who care deeply about you is both an exciting, even joyful, moment and a time we absolutely dread. We can&#8217;t help it; we worry about you. Actually, we worry something bad &#8211; make that, something horrible &#8211; might happen and we could lose you.</p><p>In the last few years, you&#8217;ve become an adult. You tackled your school work, dodged most of the common teenage social pitfalls and made plans for the future. Almost daily, you bring us pride. Make us laugh. Frustrate us less and impress us more. You&#8217;re smart. You have our trust.</p><p>But &#8211; and this is one of those buts that warrants a long, dramatic pause for effect &#8211; you are still a teenager.</p><p>That&#8217;s not a put-down; it&#8217;s a statement of fact. And the facts, as proven by science, psychology and history, show that teenagers are more likely to engage in impulsive, even risky, behavior, make poor decisions and cave to peer pressure.</p><p>We also know this to be true because, a long time ago, we experienced the feelings, too. We felt the scrutiny of friends and classmates; we wanted to fit in. We thought it was important to seem cool.</p><p>Which brings us back to your prom.</p><p>This formal dance &#8211; like graduation ceremonies and parties soon to follow &#8211; represents another milestone on your road to independence.</p><p>Unfortunately, every spring, somewhere in Pennsylvania, some students use these rites of passage as excuses for stupid behavior. Or they get caught up in the excitement and let their guards down briefly, if only for a few life-changing seconds. We could quote you the latest statistics on distracted driving crashes, on alcohol-fueled fatalities, on teen pregnancy. But, selfishly, the only statistic we care about right now is this: There is one, and only one, you.</p><p>Make good choices.</p><p>Before driving, put your cellphone out of sight and out of reach. While driving, don&#8217;t use a phone to text, chat or snap photos. (As a passenger, insist that your driver also avoid those distractions.) Do not drink alcohol and drive. Do not get in a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking alcohol. Any underage drinking conviction can spoil your employment or college ambitions; why even risk it?</p><p>By all means, go to the prom. Go to parties with your friends. Have a blast.</p><p>But use good judgment so that you get home, safe and sound.</p><p>Always.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The prom &#8211; like graduation ceremonies and parties soon to follow &#8211; represents another milestone on your road to independence. Make good choices. For tips about prom night safety, go to safesober.com. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_Prom-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The prom &#8211; like graduation ceremonies and parties soon to follow &#8211; represents another milestone on your road to independence. Make good choices. For tips about prom night safety, go to safesober.com. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Safety tips</p><p>More than 14,800 crashes on Pennsylvania&#8217;s roads last year involved a distracted driver, according to the state Department of Transportation. As a result of those incidents, 66 people died.</p><p>&#8226; Read about PennDOT&#8217;s safe driving campaign at <a href="http://www.justdrivepa.org/" target="_blank">justdrivepa.org</a>.</p><p>&#8226; Find tips about prom night safety by visiting <a href="http://www.safesober.com/" target="_blank">safesober.com</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div>

Our Opinion: Before your prom night, let’s talk about smart choices