Road deaths involving drunk drivers are still alarmingly high but Port Moody secondary students hope a mock accident held Tuesday, May 28 will put a dent in the numbers.
The faux grizzly scene — featuring seven students playing the parts of victims, driver and passengers — was organized by ICBC and Port Moody first responders to remind students to stay safe this grad season.
And for Shayna Desi, a student Grade 12, the message is sinking in.
“I think a lot of people learned from it,” said Desi, who played the victim who “died” in the collision that was staged out in front of the high school.
Made up with a big gash on her face, Desi acted out what might happen in a severe crash involving a drunk or high driver, even slowing her breathing like she was about to die. “Once I got into character and they put me in a car, it was very stressful.”
Police officers, firefighters and the BC Ambulance paramedics responded to the mock collision, and used tools to extricate and care for the victims.
As paramedics worked to “revive” her through CPR, Desi thought about what might actually happen in a crash.
She said she hopes her fellow peers take the message seriously as they prepare for grad activities taking place in the coming weeks. Some might be tempted to experiment with drugs and alcohol when they attend parties or go camping.
“A lot of kids could be driving, not that they’re going to be doing anything wrong, but I want them to continue to be safe,” Desi said.
Desi’s face paint was applied by a professional and looked real she said, and after spending the day wearing the make-up, she hopes she proved to be a serious reminder of what’s at sake if kids’ drink or get high and drive. Teens should not accept rides from drivers who are impaired either.
According to road safety data from the Province of BC, as many as 62 people died in car accidents involving impaired driving in 2017.
May is Speed Awareness month, Port Moody Police say, and they hope the mock collision will demonstrate to students the consequences of impaired, distracted driving and speeding.
