Mock Car Accidents Educate Students
The Mountain View High school in Tuscon, Arizona is going to great lengths to demonstrate the dangers of impaired and distracted driving to local teens by staging a mock car accident at the school.
The Northwest Fire District, local police and scientists from the Health and Medical Science Academy helped to simulate the tragic events that unfold during serious car accidents for students. The display, called "Operation Prom Night", attracted about 1,800 teens who gathered at the school's football field to watch. In addition to staging the car accident with real vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances, students were provided with warnings on the various distractions that can lead to accidents and the importance of driving safely at all times. There were 219 DUI-related fatalities in Arizona last year, and these accounted for 27% of the total traffic fatalities in the state. The organizers of the event hope that it will make teens take driving more seriously and indirectly save some lives.