Simulated Accidents Teach Students About Safe Driving

At a New Jersey high school, students recently experienced a real-life simulation of a fatal car accident, exposing them firsthand to the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. The simulation was a collaborative effort between the Scotch Plains-Fanwood high school’s chapter of the Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) and the local police, fire department, and paramedics teams.

The mock accident was constructed using a donated vehicle that had been destroyed in a collision. As part of the simulation, a 911 call was made, and within a moment, police and paramedics responded to the scene. Student actors portrayed a collision survivor and a fatal victim upon whom the paramedics attempted to perform lifesaving procedures. Following the emergency responders, an actor portraying one of the students’ parents arrived, emotionally distraught by seeing her child involved in the accident.

Addressing the Emotional Realities of Car Accidents

The purpose of the simulation was to make all facets of a car accident feel real for the students. One of these facets that cannot be imparted in the classroom is the emotional trauma a car accident can have for all parties involved. Actors playing the parents rushed to the scene and reacted to seeing their children in critical condition, demonstrating to the onlooking students how their own parents or parents of others involved in collisions might respond. One of the sergeants who attended the drill discussed the emotional portion of his job and how he must visit a victim’s home about once a year to tell their loved ones about their fatal collision.

The simulation was more than just a demonstration for high school students; it was a drill for first responders. The paramedics performed the same procedures that they perform in real accident cases, giving them a chance to practice while students observed the procedures they follow.

Distracted Driving and Drunk Driving are Choices

A vehicle malfunction, ice accumulation on the roadway, and mistakes due to a lack of driving experience are often beyond a driver’s control. As a young driver becomes more experienced, they can learn how to adapt their driving to their environment and address issues with their vehicles as they arise. The more experience a driver has, the less likely they are to make mistakes.

Drunk driving and distracted driving, on the other hand, are always within a driver’s control. There are no excuses for driving impaired by alcohol, a smartphone, or other cause, and through the simulated accident, DECA and the local emergency responders hoped to show new drivers how their choices behind the wheel can potentially end their lives or others’ lives. To conclude the demonstration, police chiefs from both responding departments stressed that anybody can be involved in an accident, and that anybody who drives drunk or distracted puts their life and others’ lives in danger.

Cherry Hill Car Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Help Car Accident Victims Seek Compensation for Their Damages

If you were injured in an accident caused by distracted driving or another form of driver negligence, contact our team of Cherry Hill car accident lawyers at DiTomaso Law to discuss your options for pursuing monetary compensation for your damages. To get started, fill out our online form or call us at 856-414-0010 to schedule an initial consultation in our office. We are in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and serve clients from the surrounding areas.