"Safety Zone" Gives ACHS Students Reality Check About Drunk Driving

On Friday, May 11, 2007 Adair County High School juniors participated in the third annual “Safety Zone” to give them a real life scenario of the consequences of driving while intoxicated, including a mock drunk driving collision that utilized all aspects of a fatal accident.

The program was a full day of safe driving and other safety activities with help from experienced and qualified community people who share the concern about young drivers.

The idea for "Safety Zone” came about as an effort to demonstrate to driving students the importance of driving safely and how alcohol and other drugs can so severely impair their driving abilities. 

According to Zornes, “Young drivers just don’t seem to understand the magnitude that driving entails and how even one drink of an alcoholic beverage or the use of other drugs can have such disastrous consequences. It is our hope through the 'Safety Zone' to get that point across.” 

“Safety Zone” had interactive activities concerning alcohol and the impairment it causes, with the Fatal Experience Driving Simulation Program, the Columbia City Police Department with its Fatal Vision Program, Lake Cumberland District Health Department activities and the Alcohol and Beverage Control agency presented Alcohol 101, a computerized virtual reality program along with several agencies and organizations with booths containing information concerning all facets of safety. 

“We hold 'Safety Zone' as close as possible to the prom. It is so important that our students be aware of the devastating effects that driving under the influence can have. We want our kids to be safe,” stated Zornes.

“Safety Zone” is a collaborative effort between Adair County Schools and sectors of the community such as Law Enforcement, Emergency Manage-ment, Ambulance Service,    Volunteer Fire Departments, Air Evac, Substance Abuse Coalition, Lake Cumberland Area Development District, Kentucky Crime Prevention Coalition, Adair County, KY Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP), Alcohol and Beverage Control, the Adair County legal community, the Adair County medical community, Adair County Public Library, MADD, Lake Cumberland District Health Department, Adanta Regional Prevention Center, Drive Smart Kentucky Department of Transportation, UK Cooperative Extension Services, Lindsey Wilson College and Michael Bryant Towing.

Zornes would also like to remind everyone of Project Graduation, the safe and alcohol free/drug free graduation event that will take place immediately following ACHS graduation on Friday, June 1 and will end at 1:30 a.m. 

If you would like to volunteer to work Project Graduation or would like to make a contribution, please call 384-3400.