'Impaired' driving a lesson for teens at Hersey High
Students at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights got behind the wheel last week for a memorable lesson on the dangers of drunk and distracted driving.
The "cars" were actually pedal-powered vehicles that students negotiated around an obstacle course. Each student drove the course twice - with and without "fatal vision" goggles that simulate what it's like to drive impaired.
The students, from drivers education and other classes, took a quiz before and after driving the course.
The pedal car activity - held in conjunction with the Arlington Heights Police Department - was the final event in this year's Operation Teen Safe Driving (OTSD), a teen-led activism program.
The school's SADD chapter - Students Against Destructive Decisions - partnered with OTSD's sponsors, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Ford Motor Co. and the Allstate Foundation. The program also works closely with the Illinois State Police.
Hersey sophomore Elizabeth Moncada came up with the slogan for this year's focus: "LOL or RIP - what's more important? Don't text and drive!"
Student-made posters and printed banners with Moncada's slogan were hung around the school, as well as at Arlington Heights Ford. Activities highlighted the dangers of texting and driving, said detective Brandi Romag of the Arlington Heights Police Department, school resource officer at Hersey and SADD sponsor.
Students and teachers responded positively to the pedal-car event, Romag said. "We will definitely be hosting another event like this in the future."