By Bryan Eneas

PACI educates students about impaired driving dangers

Apr 19, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Staff and students from the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI) watched an emotional video outlining the dangers of driving while impaired.

An accompanying presentation by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) representative Brandon Randhay explained impaired driving doesn’t just mean driving drunk. Marijuana was the main focus of discussion, however prescription drugs were also briefly touched on as well.

The presentation from MADD included a video called The Pact which told the story of a teenaged girl who was killed in an impaired driving incident. The dramatization was followed by victim impact statements from people involved in three different impaired driving related accidents.

Robyn Keays, the vice president of the Prince Albert MADD chapter, said the video hits home. She was involved in a collision with a drunk driver.

“Watching the video, and seeing at the end and seeing the picture of the accidents, of the survivors, the loved ones, truly breaks my heart,” Keys said. “I’m happy to see they geared the video towards everybody… It’s not just specific groups of schools, everybody is involved.”

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Keays said she was happy with the way video video came out; it could even resonate with someone who hadn’t been in an accident like she had.

The vice president also noted the timing of the video and presentation. She said when she was in school, the Victoria Day long weekend in May, was often a tragic time at her high school due to impaired driving.

She noted graduation is just around the corner for high school students, and seeing a video like this is important for upcoming graduates.

“I’m hoping this will really hit home for the kids and make them realize it’s not right to drive impaired,” Keays said.

According to Tara Switenky, the Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) coordinator at Prince Albert Collegiate Institute, a majority of students at the school have been impacted by impaired driving.

“Our SADD committee polled all the students to see the impact of impaired driving on them… and over 85 per cent of our population reported that they had a drunk driving accident resulting in injury, bodily harm, or loss of job or things of that nature with their family,” Switenky said.

She said the poll’s results also showed students are presented with a variety of challenges when trying to find a safe way home after a night out. Things like a lack of late-night bus routes, or high cab fares are common challenges. As the school also educates people from around Prince Albert, sometimes finding a ride home is near-impossible for those students.

Switenky said she hoped the presentation from MADD helped them realize they have opportunities, and the choices they make today will have future impact.

Teara Morris, a member of the school’s SADD committee, said while she hadn’t had a chance to talk with her peers about the presentation, she could see it left an impression with them.

“Just by looking at them, and their expression, I could tell that it touched their hearts, and it really made them think in many ways to be responsible,” Morris said.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas