Drink-drive reality bites
Matamata College students were faced with a sense of realism last week after the annual SADD mock crash.
Skilled volunteers, including an ambulance, the local fire service, Matamata police, and a contracting company providing the truck used in the simulation, helped make the day possible.
The crash had been a month in the making, but this year’s Students Against Driving Drunk committee have been planning an awesome week filled with different activities since the start of the year.
SADD committee coleader Laura Barr said the mock crash was a huge success.
‘‘ So many people turned up to see this.
‘‘It was probably one of the best mock crashes Matamata College has seen to date.
‘‘ Usually they just have a bent-up car and that’s it, but this time we had actors and fire engines and the lot – it was awesome.’’
August 12 to 16 was the official national SADD week, with hundreds of New Zealand secondary schools taking part in SADDthemed activities to raise awareness and help teenagers realise the effects of drinking while driving.
‘‘I really enjoyed the challenges of promoting SADD with my coleaders and think everything went really well for our first year,’’ SADD committee coleader Candice Herbst said.
‘‘I hope that this has left a positive effect on students at Matamata College.’’
Hundreds of students from all levels rushed to the front carpark at lunchtime to the sight of a surprise simulated car accident.
Hushed whispers and shocked expressions were everywhere, with some of the younger students even asking if it was all real.
With five convincing actors playing roles of the victims in the crash and the emergency services joining forces to get them out of the car, it did indeed look realistic.
This year the Matamata College SADD committee put up a notice board and asked students to write on a post-it note what they would miss if they died in a drink-driving accident.
It was completely covered within a week.
The committee also held a SADD-themed Amazing Race, with SADD-related challenges such as quizzes, getting out of a car, and many more.
‘‘It’s been an amazing experience, and would gladly do it again!’’ Laura said.
‘‘I can’t believe how successful it was, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds for SADD.’’