By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–A number of Union City School students got a serious life lesson – without the consequences – earlier this week.
In conjunction with the Union City Police and Obion County Sherriff Departments and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour visited the UCHS campus and provided participants with simulated dangers of impaired driving.
The Grand Rapids (MI) company and its representatives provided a state-of-the-art fully-functional simulator that allowed students to replicate driving while distracted, drunk, or drugged.
Simply put, the simulator allowed participants to experience real-life dangers without real-life repercussions.
“It was an educational experience that we think was priceless and invaluable,” said UCHS School Resource Officer and Department head Raphe Whaley. “This technology is amazing. It’s really been an eye-opener for our students.
AAT officials said traffic fatalities rose 10.9 percent nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. The fatal crash rate for teens is three times greater than for drivers aged 20 and over, and driver distraction is responsible for more than 58 percent of teen crashes.
Young drivers (ages 16-20) are 17 times more likely to die in a crash when they have a blood alcohol level of .08 percent than when they have not been drinking.
The Arrive Alive team’s mission is to educate drivers on the dangers and consequences of impaired and distracted driving and to create lifelong safe driving habits.
AAT has toured the country for some 20 years and regularly works with law enforcement communities and insurance companies in addition to visiting high school and college campuses and the military.
Representatives of the group also presented their display to students at Obion County Central and South Fulton after leaving Union City.