Every 15 minutes, on Thursday, April 7, students experienced what it would be like to lose a classmate to a drunk driver.
The Every 15 Minutes program raises awareness about the consequences that can come from driving under the influence or being in a vehicle with an impaired driver. The program is based on the concept that someone in the U.S., at a previous point in time, is killed every 15 minutes due to a DUI.
“With the dance and the prom coming up, hopefully that will make students think twice about what they’re doing when they go out with their friends,” Principal Ms. Mary Jo Fosselman-King said. “It’s a good program, very meaningful, and I hope it has a big impact on our students.”
On the first day, the Grim Reaper removed selected students, who played victims of drunk driving accidents, from class every 15 minutes. and a deputy read their fake obituraries in class, while a description of their death was read on the loudspeaker.
“The atmosphere in the class was silent and really heavy,” Senior Nathan Wong said. “Being talked about in the past tense made me really reflective and suddenly conscious of the things I still wanted to do. Everyone’s eyes were on me and all I could do was stare at the ground because it was too difficult to meet their surprised faces.”
Juniors and seniors experienced a simulated traffic collision and got first-hand experience of the aftermath and consequences of DUIs. Law enforcement was at the scene to arrest a student portraying a drunk driver while medical personnel assisted students who were acting as victims and they took away Senior Colin Cardenaz, who acted as a dead student.
Participating students stayed overnight at Embassy Suites and wrote letters to their families about their experience. The next day, parents and students read their emotional letters aloud and showed students how serious the consequences of drunk driving can be.