It's graduation week for our local high schools. And, hopefully, it has been a week of safe, alcohol-free celebrations for the new graduates who also often attend their parent/school sponsored "Grad Night" parties.
Schools, parents and numerous community organizations have spent years informing, educating, and even shocking teenagers - all in attempts to make young adults aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.
The "Every 15 Minute" program, organized and sponsored by parents, local businesses and various agencies, did stun an entire Ann Sobrato High School population last month during a two-day presentation.
Students learned the powerful statistics that reveal that 30 percent of all Americans will become involved in an alcohol-related accident. Further, a shocking 60 percent of eighth-graders report that alcohol is very easy to acquire. About 70 percent of young adult drinkers (19 to 20 year olds) engage in heavy drinking and consequent poor judgment, which is deathly when driving. Also, 3 percent of 18 to 20 year olds admitted to actually drinking while driving.
Every 30 minutes a person dies in an alcohol-related crash, which is some improvement from the previous "every 15-minute" death rate. Still, it is a death rate that is unacceptable.
However, the "Every 15 Minute" program presented a great deal more than facts and figures: 17 volunteer students, one every 15 minutes, were escorted out of class and were "forced" to join a group of the Living Dead.
Later, the entire student population observed a simulated drunk driving crash site. There was a victim being zipped into a body bag, police officers, fire department members, county officials, paramedics and a coroner.
Parents of the victim later went to the morgue to identify their daughter, the drunk driver was taken to jail and other victims went to hospitals. The following day students attended the mock funeral. Bagpipes played a solemn farewell of Amazing Grace; parents read obituaries for their children, sons and daughters who would never finish their lives; and friends were overcome with grief, knowing they would never be able to say good-bye.
Teenage drinking and driving has such devastating effects on so many. Think of the younger brother who was so connected with an older sister now gone. Think of the teens who do not drink and yet are affected by friends who do not take in the reality check: teenagers are not invincible. Think of the police officers, who often arrest teen drunk drivers and sometimes spend several hours extracting victims from crash sites.
Perhaps this week, Graduation Week, with fresh reminders of the consequences of drinking and driving, community teens will be spared the catastrophe of a drunk driving fatality.
However, in August during a hot summer evening, who will prevent a group of "partying" teens from jumping into the back of a pick up and racing down some country road? During the fall, who will stop an impaired freshman college student from taking Highway 5, a sure straight shot for a return visit home? And maybe two years later, despite promises to his mother, who will intervene on behalf of a drinking teen from jumping on his motorcycle and running that fatal red light?
Will it be you?
Catherine Connor
Catherine Connor Catherine Connor is a junior at Ann Sobrato High School. She writes a monthly youth column for the Morgan Hill Times. She can be reached at cthrnpm@aol.com.
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