Asbury high schoolers learn dangers of drunk driving
'These presentations open up students' minds that this can truly happen to anybody'
On the eve of the high school prom, Asbury Park students learned about the dangers of drunk driving this week.
The junior-senior prom is tonight at Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury, and students learned several lessons about the consequences of driving under the influence in school yesterday. School substance awareness coordinator Alisha De Lorenzo organized an all-day event to remind the students to make good decisions at the prom.
The day started with a presentation called “Rude Awakenings” from Molly Berkowitz of the Jersey Shore Trauma Center on drinking and distracted driving.
After that, Asbury Park firefighters and police officers joined the students on the high school’s front lawn, where they simulated a car crash and extraction drill. Two student volunteers were taken out of the car, which will remain in the high school’s front lawn for several days as a reminder to students.
After lunch, students attended the last event of the day in the auditorium. They listened to Gabe Hurley, who was involved in an accident one night after a reckless driver smashed into his car. As a result of the accident, he will never be able to see, smell or taste again.
“These presentations open up students’ minds that this can truly happen to anybody,” Superintendent Denise Lowe said in a prepared release. “Driving while texting and drinking and driving are a big problem everywhere and every generation needs to know the consequences of those decisions.”
De Lorenzo emphasized that even a sip of an alcoholic beverage prior to a schol function places a child in violation of the district’s drug and alcohol policy, and encourages parents to speak to children about their choices before, during and after prom night.
“We all have the same goal of keeping our children safe, while having them have an enjoyable time at the proms,” she said.
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