Traction event showcases consequences of drunk driving

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – (KBSI) – The Traction organization draws in schools all across Missouri to showcase the consequences of just one bad decision, like driving under the influence.

Anne Sankale with the traction organization describes the events after a car crash, explaining what’s really important at the end of the day.

“Everybody in my car walked away and the only thing that didn’t make it was my car and honestly that is something that’s replaceable but humans aren’t replaceable,” Sankale said. “So just knowing that, knowing that like there’s so many students that like necessarily don’t make the right choices but like you can also make the right choices and still end up in an accident. So like it just proves to show that if I continue to do what I’m doing and other people do the same then they can also walk away from any fatality that happens.”

Coordinators say they want this crash to look real, showing students the consequences of even just one bad decision behind the wheel of a car.

“We offer this so that they can see what actually happens in the event of a crash of any kind. We demonstrate a alcohol involved crash just because it’s the most common that we see,” said Rachel Penny, the Traction coordinator. “It’s so that they can see it without ever actually experiencing it.”

However, Penny says many students have unfortunately experienced loss of classmates due to car crashes.

“We can provide this to them so that they see everything that goes on in a life like crash and how many responders it takes and what all goes into it so that they don’t ever have to experience it,” said Penny.

Other students like Conner Strickland say this is a great moment to help the high schoolers stop and think before getting behind the wheel.

“For me personally, I just think about my family and friends, everybody’s driving and this is a great way to just see the dangers of distracted driving,  and how they really affect the lives of people that are lost,” said Strickland.

Organizers saying they will continue to bring this event back year after year, hoping the images stay with students in order to hopefully save lives.

“This event is very important to me, I’ve been doing this for 15 years and I started doing it when my children were babies and I want to make just our state and community safer for them. Penny says, “as I do it I just I want every single one of these kids to go home safe because when I hear about crashes on our roadways no matter if it’s a lid or an adult or anyone it just breaks my heart.”