On Thursday, May 31, students at Ballston Spa’s High School were out and about during gym classes taking part in a three-day program called Smart Choices.
They climbed rock walls, drove golf carts while their senses were impaired and got in and out of cars as fast as they could. While these activities may not seem safe at first glance, they were all done under close supervision and simulated using vision impairment goggles.
The program’s goal is to “increase student awareness about the safety concerns of reckless driving and other unsafe decisions made by teenagers.”
The messages being delivered were applied not only to drivers, but passengers as well, and included choices related to other teen issues like bullying, alcohol and drug abuse, careers, exercise and nutrition.
Assistant Principal, Kimberly Bolster said when the program started four years ago, it focused primarily on driving safely. Since its inception though, it has expanded to include all kinds of choices teen’s face.
“Driver safety is still the emphasis because, if something goes wrong, it’s the most immediate and tragic impact,” said Bolster, adding that, “in the past two years we’ve expanded to healthy choices in general.”
Occupant Protection Instructor Cindy Dort of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County started the Smart Choices program. She has four sons, two who have graduated from Ballston Spa and two currently attending. She posed the idea of holding a teen driver safety program and the school agreed.
A $15,000 grant from Allstate helped Dort purchase a golf cart and fatal vision goggles to simulate what it would be like to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs, just one of the demonstrations kids got to participate in.
Junior Garrett O’Grady drove “under the influence,” outfitted with a pair the goggles. While he was able to steer along the marked course, he did veer off of it a lot and remarked that “it was hard to judge,” and he didn’t feel at all “in control.”
“Our goal is that we’re helping the students make good choices. If they make good choices behind the wheel, maybe that transfers on into life. … It’s not only being the driver, but a passenger and to say, ‘NoI’m not riding with you, you’ve been drinking. Stop speeding, or stop texting while you’re driving.’ It takes everybody to make the roads safe,” said Dort.
A demonstration put on by New York State troopers demonstrating the consequences of texting while driving was very popular with the students.
“It engaged everyone, even if you weren’t the driver, and individualized for each kid how they drove and what they did wrong,” Bolster said. “For us, this year it’s very important and relevant. Our students lost a friend due to a car crash in January.”
Noelle Johnsen, who was set to graduate early, died when a truck she was riding in crashed due to excessive speed. The driver of the truck, Brian Vecchio, 18, of Ballston Spa pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide, a felony on Thursday, May 31. He faces up to four years in state prison.
“It’s not just drinking and driving, they get that message, ”Bolster said. “The idea of the texting, and your speed and you’re just an inexperienced driver to be trying to do all of this at once. Just stop and think about what you’re doing, think about the outcome. Stop, think and decide if it’s a smart choice.”
