Standing (left to right): Calhoun High School student Anne Concepcion; Saul Lerner, Director, Physical Education, Health, Athletics and Driver Education, Bellmore-Merrick High School District; Calhoun HS student Katelyn Brown; Jennifer Vitale, Vice Principal, Calhoun High School; students Cindy Lee and Nina Thomas; Terrence Hinson, Assistant Principal, Calhoun HS; and David Seinfeld, Principal, Calhoun HS
October 14, 2009
Calhoun High School Students Use Vision Goggles and Pedal Karts to Simulate Impaired and Distracted Driving
Wendy Tepfer
Director, Community Parent Center
Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for American teens — a statistic that unfortunately has not changed in more than a decade. Alcohol related crashes kill more people between the ages of 16 and 20 than any other age group. In the United States, about 18,000 people (adults and teens) die each year as a result of drunk driving crashes, and more than 500,000 are injured.
Students at Calhoun High School in Merrick participated in a unique safe teen driving demonstration addressing impaired and distracted driving behaviors. This demonstration was part of the high school’s Grim Reaper Day, which was held on October 24 in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week from October 18 through October 24. In 2007, Congress passed a resolution establishing the third week in October as National Teen Driver Safety Week to educate the public about the tragedies, the causes and the solutions to teen motor crashes.
As Director of the Community Parent Center, a non-profit organization located in North Merrick, I am always looking for new ways to address issues that involve safe teen driving. To empower teenagers to become safer drivers and to help raise awareness and promote responsible driving throughout the year, The Parent Center, the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District and the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board developed a safe teen driving program to educate the students about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving.
Using non-motorized pedal karts, students safely drove a simulated course “sober,” then “impaired” while wearing impairment goggles. As in real-life situations, the students began with complete control of the kart, but then became impaired while wearing the goggles, and were not in 100% control. Wearing the goggles, students experienced the simulated effects that alcohol consumption has on their body. The goggles’ simulated effects of impairment included reduced alertness, slower reaction time, confusion, visual distortion, alteration of depth and distance perception, reduction of peripheral vision, poor judgment and decision making, double vision and lack of muscular coordination.
I applaud the ongoing efforts of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Calhoun High School, and their principal, Mr. Seinfeld for their continuing participation in our “Driving in the Safe Lane” program, and thank them for joining our campaign to keep our teen drivers safe. The Grim Reaper Day activities, coordinated by Calhoun High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Advisor Keri Cinelli, were a great way to demonstrate and reinforce the importance of driving safely.
Safe teen driving is a vital concern for our youth. We believe this is a very effective educational tool to help our students learn some of the possible dangers of drinking and driving without having to take the actual risks. It is imperative to equip the teens and parents of our community with the knowledge and skills needed to become smarter drivers, which will help save lives and reduce injuries.
A special thank you to the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board for funding this program through their STOP DWI program for the education of teens in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and throughout Nassau County.
