Since the beginning of February,  Schreiber High School’s chapter of SADD(Students Against Destructive Decisions) has been organizing various events to raise awareness of the issue of drunk driving.  Club President senior Hope Lane along with Vice President junior Asher Charno are working together with members to educate their peers on important issues like driving under the influence.  

“I think it is very important to bring awareness to this issue, especially in the high school where some students can drive.  Hearing and learning from peers may brighten many of the high schoolers’ eyes to the importance of driving safely,” said sophomore Kayla Caplin.  

Many of the club members have made presentations that will be displayed on the televisions in  the high school hallways. The slides with artwork will show the message to students inside the building during the school day. 

 These slides were created and discussed in April for Victims Rights Week.  This  weeklong remembrance is dedicated to bringing awareness to victimization and its effects on individuals and the community.  Victims Rights Week  promotes laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime.  The club also plans on making and presenting videos discussing the issue in hopes of having a more lasting impact on their peers.  It is intended that these videos will be displayed alongside announcements regarding the club’s campaign. 

All material made by the club was in collaboration with MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  MADD is SADD’s parent club and is a national service dedicated to ending drunk driving.  The students in the club spent time consulting with MADD representatives before creating informational content.  

In addition, they will be placing signs in the hallways with reminders of why not to drink and drive.  Students will naturally be drawn to it by the yellow tape placed on the floor parallel to the blue tape that is currently on the floor.  It will show what can happen if you drink and drive, and the tape will lead to the signs on the wall.  

The club’s Mother’s Day fundraiser during the first week of May will provide  students the opportunity to create items that remind them “you’re worth it” and to drive safely.   

 The club’s intent is to bring awareness to the seriousness of drunk driving.  The current high school generation can reduce the rates if they become educated and aware of how their choices affect people beyond themselves.  SADD’s advisor, Ms. Gilof, and the club members hope that Schrieber students understand that it is imperative to have sound judgment and to know who they are getting inside a vehicle with, and, if there is a feeling that something is off, the right thing to do is to call a parent/guardian or friend.  It is worth annoying a parent, sibling, or loved one for a ride home if it means you can safely sleep in your bed at night.  

In New York State, a violation of driving under the influence or driving while impaired has a mandatory fine between $500  and $1,000 and possible jail time of one year.  However, despite consequences  that an individual can face as a  result of driving under the influence innocent lives are still lost.  On  April 26, a New York Police Department officer that lived in East Northport was killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic after an accident took place on the Long Island Expressway.  His three and five-year-old children lost their father because of one person’s irresponsible  decision to drive under the influence.