With prom rapidly approaching, the Campus Police took a stand to try and cut down on students’ reckless driving. On Wed. April 18, all of the senior class was excused from their classes during third block to gather in the circle drive and witness a Mock DUI, a simulation of a car accident caused by an intoxicated driver.
The presentation was put on by the Overland Park Fire Department, along with the Campus Police and actors from the school’s D.R.E.A.M. Team.
“It was a really impactful experience,” junior Rebecca Simkins said. “I was forced to picture myself and some of my closest friends in such a traumatic situation.”
Simkins and seniors Harry Schwartz, Hannah Swagerty, Kyra Martiny and Michael Mahr acted as the people involved in the accident. Before the simulation started, they were covered in stage makeup and doused in fake blood to make it look as if they had sustained injuries in the crash.
“The purpose of staging the wreck is to bring the reality of how dangerous driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol can be,” Student Resource Officer Doug Rison said. “We try to recreate it to be as real as possible to emphasize this. In addition to the actual wreck and the immediate consequences, there are so many additional consequences afterward that can have lifelong impacts on many people, even those not directly involved in the accident.”
This year was the first time that the Overland Park Fire Department has been a part of both the simulation and slideshow presentation immediately following, providing a whole new experience for both administration and students.
“The demonstration and presentation were definitely a reality check of how careful you need to be,” senior Danny Moore said. “Along with how one little mistake can ruin you and your family and friends’ lives.”
“The Mock DUI presentation has been going on for years, as long as I have been in law enforcement at the least, which is 17 years,” Rison said. “It has been done here at North usually every two years and both senior and junior class participate. I think the intent is to have it every year in the future which is why juniors did not attend this time.”
Officer Rison would like to encourage students to provide feedback on how you thought that the presentation went. If you would like to do so please contact Officer Rison or Mr. Colburn.