×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Bridgeport Students Warned of Dangers of Drunken Driving

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be life threatening, and teens at Bridgeport High School learned about the risks on Tuesday.

Bridgeport students attended the Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose program, a fun-filled and fast-paced way to educate students about the dangers of being under the influence while driving.

As students entered the school building Tuesday, they were chosen at random every 15 minutes to have a purple ribbon tied around their wrist. This illustrated how every 15 minutes someone dies due to an alcohol-related collision.

A segment of the program consisted of students taking a quiz about alcohol on their iPads. Questions included: “Can you beat a breathalyzer test?” “If convicted of a DUI,what are the criminal penalties?” and “Is it possible to be arrested for a DUI without consuming any alcohol?”

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Moran provided answers.

“It doesn’t have to be alcohol. It can be any kind of drug out there,” Moran said. “If you take opioids or other prescription drugs, you can put yourself at risk for a DUI. If it affects your ability to drive or alters your status from how it normally is, you are not safe to drive. On the bottle for some prescriptions it says you shouldn’t drive, and there’s a reason for that.”

Organizers said an alarming number of students get the questions wrong.

Moran had student volunteer Ethan Leiffer answer questions asking if he’d witnessed other students drive while under the influence. Moran then had Leiffer put on a pair of goggles that simulates being under the influence. He attempted to walk in a straight line and was unable to do so. Moran then had Leiffer participate in a mock arrest.

“Just because you pass the test of walking in a straight line does not not mean you are off the hook. We look at the totality of the circumstances,” Moran said. “We are thinking about why we stopped you, how you’re acting, how well you are doing passing the tests we give you.”

Student Gwen Piegan shared her story about a loved one who was affected by a drunk driver.

“I had a family member who was in a drunk driving accident. He is never going to be the same. None of us are ever going to be the same. He can walk, and I am thankful every day he is alive,” Piegan said. “When you find someone you love in that state after an accident, it’s really hard and you know things just aren’t going to be the same.”

Sponsors for the event were Gold Khourey and Turak, the Wheeling Nailers, WTOV-TV, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and students in the school’s Staying Clean drug-free club.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today