Central Coast kids get lesson on drunk driving dangers at Seaside HS

Hundreds of students got a taste of the consequences of drinking and driving first hand on Thursday. First responders teamed up with California Highway Patrol to put on the “Every 15 Minutes” program at Seaside High School.

According to the national campaign, someone dies from an alcohol-related collision in the U.S. every 15 minutes. The two day event aims to make kids think twice before they get behind the wheel intoxicated. Part of the program includes real life scenarios that officers see too often.

“It’s a great impact compared to everything else. it’s shows how drinking and driving in not the right thing to do. And for us teenagers we always choose the wrong decisions and it gives us an open mind in every type of way,” Seaside senior Royer Hernandez said.

“We want the students to come away with this knowing the consequences of their actions and not only knowing the consequences. But knowing that their actions don’t just affect them, there are many people that are affected by these crashes,” Officer Jaime Rios said.

Friday teens will attend a mock funeral for their peers who acted in Thursday’s mock accident. They’ll also get to hear from families who’ve actually been impacted by drunk drivers.

Coordinators said it took nearly a year to plan the two day event.