On April 27, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) had a mock car crash in the Eleanor Roosevelt parking lot in order to promote awareness of the consequences of drunk driving.

     The sponsor, Ms. Joanne Read, says that SADD held the event because “every 15 minutes someone dies from drunk driving” and to see that statistic change. 

     SADD is a school program that helps members feel like they are making a difference in their peers’ lives. Some members join because they have been affected by drunk driving in their lives. Ms. Read has wanted to do a mock car crash at Roosevelt since she first became sponsor in 2002, but has not had the resources until this year.

     During the mock car crash five SADD members, the Greenbelt and Beltsville Fire Departments, and the Greenbelt Police acted out the normal procedure that happens after a car accident. SADD members were treated as if they were victims of a car crash, put on stretchers and taken away. A student also went through a mock drunk test to show students what would happen if they were pulled over for drunk driving.

     Later in the day, there was a senior assembly where PG Board of Education member at Large and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Activist Donna Hathaway Beck and MADD Activist Leslie Thomas, victims of drunk driving, spoke about how drunk drivers have affected their own lives and the lives of their families.

     To further promote drunk driving awareness, SADD is holding the Prom Promise event in the school library on May 14. During this event seniors will sign a contract promising that they will not drink and drive during prom.