In an effort to warn students of the dangers of driving while intoxicated, the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School hosted a drunk driving simulation program during health class. The S.T.O.P.P.E.D. Program, which is offered free of charge by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, is geared to inform high school students about New York State’s zero tolerance law for drivers under 21 who are caught driving while intoxicated and the consequence they face. “Drunk Driving is becoming an epidemic,” Deputy Sheriff Thomas Indence told the students. “If you get caught drinking and driving under the age of 21, you are in big trouble. We want you to live long and full lives, don’t make that mistake.”
Following the discussion on zero tolerance, Deputy Sheriffs Indence and Rick Rumplick coached the students as they drove through cone mazes while pedaling a cart and wearing goggles that simulate driving while impaired. Each cone represents a human being, and that hitting a cone means that a person has been injured or killed as a result of their choice to “drive” while impaired. The students also participated in activities where they were asked to walk heel-to-toe on a straight line and to catch a bouncing ball while wearing the goggles. “I think this program is great,” stated health teacher Carole Olsen. “The kids sometimes believe that they’re invincible, but this program is very simple and nonthreatening, but gets the point across.”
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