Impaired driving is still a major cause of death and injury among the province's young people, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) wants to reach students and educate them on the danger. Students at Sacred Heart High School were given a presentation with the film Smashed, which shows stories about how impaired driving has affected people's lives. Heather Duncan, a school field representative with MADD has been touring with the program.
Duncan says that the goal is to give kids an emotional connection to what they see on screen, and give them a real example of what can happen if they make the wrong decision and either drive while impaired, or get into a car with an impaired driver.
"It is going to remind them to make those smart decisions when they're getting behind the wheel, or getting into a car with a friend, it's going to remind them of the right choice to make."
Statistically, four people a day are killed in Canada, and Duncan says that over half of collisions involving youth involve alcohol. She says that the youth are the main target for campaigns because of these statistics, and it's important to connect to them before they make the mistake.
MADD representatives tour around the province in a Kia Sedona, donated by Kia, which students are encouraged to sign in order to pledge that they will not drive impaired or ride with someone who is impaired. Duncan says that it's a drivable statement, as it is very visible and has the signatures of students from every school a MADD representative visits.
The ultimate goal is to prevent impaired driving, and Duncan believes that the variety of statements and situations in the video means that students can connect emotionally and will make an impact in their lives.
"If one person watches that and makes a different choice than they would have made later on, that's enough for me to keep doing my job, but I hear feedback from students and teachers that it had an impact."
