Carson High School prom-goers are in for a special night Saturday, dancing under the stars in one of the most beautiful locations in the whole world: Lake Tahoe. Those of us who spent prom night in a crepe-papered gymnasium can only sigh with envy.
The school's student leadership earlier this year hit on the idea that, hopefully, will help keep the kids safe and sober at the dance.
The students will ride a bus to Lake Tahoe, where they will board the paddlewheeler MS Dixie II for a night of dancing and hors d'oevres. Eliminating the drive to and from the site is a great idea, reducing the chance of accidents. Keeping the kids in a confined, chaperoned space also should cut down on drinking.
Jennifer Tartan, an adviser at the school, said she thinks it's a good idea: "From 6:15 to midnight, they're going to be supervised. There's not a lot of time to make bad choices."
Statistically, teen drunken driving fatalities rise in April, May and June, or prom and graduation months. Anything schools, parents and the kids themselves can do to increase their safety while not skimping on fun is wonderful.
Dayton High School boosters are holding a fundraiser Saturday; the money will go toward throwing a memorable, yet safe, party for seniors' graduation. Fallon High School recently staged a drunken driving exercise, with "bloodied" victims, crunched cars and a mock funeral, to show teens first-hand the aftermath of drinking and driving.
These efforts appear to be helping: In the latest statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the number of fatal accidents for all age groups in Nevada decreased 13 percent from 2006 to 2007.
The whole community joins in wishing Carson High School's seniors a prom to remember, for the rest of their long, long lives.