In preparation for Prom, Graduation, and the summer driving seasons, over 600 juniors and seniors from area high schools traveled to Springfield High School (SHS) on Friday, April 15 to take part in an innovative experience aimed at eliminating teen deaths due to making bad decisions while driving.
The “Cinema Drive” multi-media experience uses 3D video technology to lead students through stories of real teens who made tragic decisions that led to life-altering traffic accidents, as well as a journey through a model of the brain to explain how even a small amount of alcohol impairs brain function and can lead to bad choices.
The Cinema Drive program was hosted by the Springfield High School (SHS) S.A.D.D. chapter (“Students against Destructive Decisions”) through a partnership with the Clark County Combined Health District’s (CCCHD) Safe Communities Coalition program. The Coalition addresses injuries and fatalities on Clark County roadways and promotes safe driving practices to area residents.
Information provided by the CCCHD states that accidents caused by drug/alcohol-impaired drivers contributed to seven fatalities in Clark County in 2015, and every 48 minutes someone within the U.S. is involved in a crash that includes an alcohol-impaired driver. Presenting the Cinema Drive experience is an effort to eliminate such vehicular accidents.
According to the SHS S.A.D.D. chapter advisor, Joel Murphy, and S.A.D.D. members Jenna Demeter (Jr) and Ryan Ramirez (Jr), using the Cinema Drive program this year is an effort to give today’s tech-savvy teens an “immersive experience” that cannot be achieved through the classic Docudrama mock accident scenes used in previous years.
CCCHD Information Officer and Health Educator, Anita Biles, is excited that the Coalition and the SHS S.A.D.D. chapter were able to bring the Cinema Drive experience to the area, “Cinema Drive is based out of North Carolina, so not everyone has access to the program. A grant allowed us to bring Cinema Drive to our area, and Clark County is the only place in Ohio to offer it. It’s not just for students either; community members have been invited to experience the program as well.”
In spite of some mixed reviews from students, overall response was positive and there remain high hopes for the Cinema Drive experience.
“Actually seeing another person’s story unfolding before your eyes is powerful. I think (Cinema Drive) will have more of an impact than what we’ve done before and help our peers think twice before having a drink or texting while they drive,” says Ramirez. Demeter says she hopes, “The experience will help people make better decisions. It’s hard to say ‘No’ to your friends, but maybe seeing the video will keep people from doing something that will hurt themselves or others.”
