(Atlantic) The Iowa State Patrol conducted a Safety Carnival today with the cooperation and coordination of the Atlantic High School in the south parking lot at the high school.
Iowa State Patrol Trooper and District #4 Public Information Officer Shelby McCreedy says the Iowa State Patrol establishes safety initiatives yearly to reduce traffic-related fatalities.
McCreedy says the four priorities are Seatbelts, Impairment, Distraction, and Excessive speed, represented by the acronym SIDE. The program brought into AHS and taught by ISP personnel was ‘SIDE with the US,’ the students were instructed on each of the safety tenants and the importance of making good decisions behind the wheel.
McCreedy says the primary goal of this program is to impact teenagers by illustrating the potentially dire consequences of alcohol consumption and distractions while driving. The Safety Carnival is a powerful program designed to challenge our students to contemplate the dangers of drinking and texting while driving, personal safety, and the importance of making responsible decisions when lives are at stake.
Nearly 13,000 people die yearly in alcohol-related collisions, with thousands more falling victim to distracted drivers. Our objective is to educate our students so that they can make informed choices and steer clear of risky driving habits. Trooper McCreedy says the activities that at the carnival include:
* Seatbelt Convincer – students are buckled into a seat that travels approximately 10 feet and mimics a slow (10 mph) crash.
*Golf Cart Texting Course – While composing a text, students will drive golf carts through a course designed to illustrate roadway changes (curves, stops, etc.). An ISP Driving instructor will be riding with each student as they attempt to navigate the course while texting
*Pedal Car Course – Students will utilize the pedal car (like an adult big wheel) while wearing Drunk goggles to illustrate the challenges of navigating the roadway while intoxicated.
*Field Sobriety Testing – Students will complete the Standard Field Sobriety tests while wearing the Drunk goggles to show how the impairment affects their ability to perform routine tasks.
*Virtual reality goggles – Our driving simulator that uses VR goggles will allow students to navigate different challenges presented through the simulator program.
*Crashed Camaro – Vehicle traveling over 149mph and crashed at 104 mph in July 2022, killing the three teenage occupants in Dubuque. The car has not been altered (except for the reconnecting roof), so students can see firsthand the extensive damage related to high-speed crashes. The vehicle still has contents from the night of the crash (Shoes, etc.), so students can see the reality of choosing to drive at excessive speeds. An accompanying video also interviews the female victims and law enforcement’s family and friends who covered the crash and remain affected by this tragedy. (The ISP Technical Investigator who conducted the crash reconstruction will be present to talk about the event).
Six Troopers from the Iowa State Patrol and one Sergeant will conduct activities and answer questions.
