Parents Talk: Party Buses for Teens

Spring will be here soon, and with it, events like prom and graduation.

Parents may be concerned about how students plan to travel to these events.

Specifically, the concern is with “party buses.”

What seems like a safe and fun alternative to driving can have some downsides that parents may not consider, according to Tonka CARES, the community coalition working to reduce illegal substance use among youth in the Minnetonka School District.

“A lot of times students plan it and parents are sort of surprised in the moment, when prom is like two days away,” said Imogen Davis, Tonka CARES Director.

Besides the most common concern for parents of potentially signing off on a night of teen drinking, there are other concerns. These include a non-drinking kid winding up on a drinking or drug-using bus or a group of students ending up with a bus that does not enforce the rules. Or if teens are caught drinking, they may be dropped off at a random location and left to find their own way home.

Also, there are plenty of companies out there that aren’t licensed or properly insured. “It’s fairly easy to start a company that doesn’t have appropriate licensure or insurance," David said.

Accidents on party buses seem to occur often. In August, a 19-year-old fell onto I-35W in Burnsville after opening an emergency exit window. After 20 minutes had gone by, someone finally told the bus driver, who pulled off the road and called 911. Most of the teens fled the scene in order to avoid underage drinking charges.

In September, a 16-year-old was killed after he stuck his head out of the emergency hatch of a double-decker bus and hit the underside of a highway overpass. He was among 65 teens aboard the bus from New York City on its way to a Sweet 16 party.

The coalition’s biggest advice for parents is to look at the bus contract. It may be online. Some companies require students and parents to sign off on a code of conduct and do not allow backpacks, coolers or beverages on board.

Would you allow your teen to ride on a "party bus?" Why or why not? Tell us in the comments area below.