Fredericton students get lesson on impaired driving from MADD Canada

More than 1,600 Fredericton students took part in MADD Canada’s School Assembly Program on Wednesday to learn about the dangers of impaired driving.

READ MORE: Impaired driving cases still far too high: RCMP

Leo Hayes High School Students watched a special screening of “In the Blink of an Eye” and heard stories from local families who lost their loved ones to crashes caused by impaired driving.

According to MADD, motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of deaths of young people across the country and half of those crashes are caused by drunk or high drivers.

The emotional video showed the fictional story of a group of teenagers drinking together to celebrate a birthday.  One of the teens got behind the wheel drunk and hit one of their friends — ruining friendships and lives.

Grade 11 student Maegan Burtt says it’s crucial other students understand the dangers of impaired driving from drugs or alcohol.

Burrt’s classmate Makenna O’dell says she has seen several MADD educational videos, but said now that she’s around people her age who drink, the message hits much harder than when she learned about impaired driving in middle school.

READ MORE: Experts in N.B. say driving under influence of marijuana endangers drivers

“It was just kind of a topic you knew was bad, but you didn’t really see it first hand,” O’dell said.

MADD Canada national president Patricia Hynes-Coates was in attendance and shared her own story about losing her stepson Nicholas.

Hynes-Coates was joined by several other local families who shared their stories of loss.

“We’re hoping by providing these stories, having these stories come forward and share what happened to them, we can allow these students to realize how serious of a crime this actually is,” Hynes-Coates said.

MADD Canada produces a new video every year to educate youth on the dangers of impaired driving.  Alcool NB Liquor (ANBL) sponsors the School Assembly Program.  The program will be presented to 50 schools across the province.

RCMP say impaired driving is a major problem

The RCMP say it’s important for youth to learn about the dangers of impaired driving.

RCMP S/Sgt. Gilles Blinn said it’s not just a problem with teenagers.  He said drivers of all ages need to be reminded of the dangers of impaired driving.

New Brunswick RCMP arrested 18 impaired drivers on Saturday during weekend check stops.

“Obviously people aren’t getting the message. I don’t know what it’s going to take for people to understand that drinking, driving, or impaired driving via drugs can kill,” Blinn said.