Police Ask Schools To Help Prevent Drunk Driving

Police are pleading with Auckland schools to support an initiative to stop underage drinkers from drunk driving. An educational program developed by students and Auckland City Council aims to educate underage drinkers of the dangers of driving drunk and Auckland police are pleading with schools to support the initiative. (Click image for big version)

"We are looking to schools for support with this initiative. It's up to them. We have started it with Sacred Heart and Tamaki College, and have had positive feedback from Baradine and St Cuthbert [Colleges]" says, Constable Deane McEntee, youth and education services, Auckland Police. Mr McEntee said that this was the first initiative of many and it was to coincide as part of Global Road Safety Week this week.

The programme targets year 11, 12 and 13 students who are most likely to engage in underage drinking. The first presentation of the programme took place at Sacred Heart College and then Tamaki College this week.

Ariana Bachop, road safety co-ordinator for Auckland City Council, says it is important for schools to get involved. Ms Bachop says that while schools are pressed for time, as it is difficult to take students out of class, the Council will continue to run the programme throughout the year and try and get as many schools involved as they can.

"Fifteen years ago there was a big hit on drunk driving and the stats showed it dropped. Recently there has been an increase in under 20-year-olds driving drunk. We are trying to do something to address this," says Ms Bachop.

Police are increasingly arresting under 20-year-old drivers for drunk driving says Inspector Heather Wells, city road policing manager, Auckland Police.

"An anti-drink driving blitz we carried out last month caught 91 people driving with excess breath alcohol and 26 of these drivers were teenagers," says Ms Wells.

Laurie Powell, head of department for health at Sacred Heart College, said that the program is important due to recent accidents with drunken youths and the topic is something the school focuses on as part of their health curriculum.

The presentation included information on brain injuries and legal risks of driving drunk, as well as interactive exercises with the students. The program is presented by Constable Deane McEntee and Brain Injury Association member, Stacy Frantzen.

"Students often want to know how much they can drink to be safe, but this presentation is trying to push the message that it's not really safe to drink anything then drive. If you want to drive then drive sober," says Ms Bachop.

This year's Global Road Safety Week focuses on young road users. The Auckland campaign was developed by students for students. The council brought the youths together to get advice on how best to target underage drunk drivers.

The message to students is not to drink at all before driving. "Not much is too much - drive sober." This slogan was developed by students who came together from various Auckland secondary schools.

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