As students come back to school, grade 10’s and 11’s take on new responsibilities. As they get older they want to get jobs and be more independent. A lot of people start with getting their learner’s license and since that is a big stepping stone for students, Riverside Planning 10 classes invite a ICBC worker to the school every semester to teach and inform the students about driving dangers. An average of 32 students, aged 16-21 are killed each year behind the wheel in British Columbia due to being under the influence of a substance. This presentation allows students a brief but effective insight into the dangers of driving and the effects of being impaired behind the wheel.
Students talked about their experiences with the ICBC presentation and agreed that it was worthwhile. “it was scary to actually see how people drive under the influence and it is scary to think that so many people every day drive like this. When we used the driving simulator under the influence, it really hit home and showed how easy it is to drift in and out of focus, which you need to have while driving,” said Olivia McDonnell a grade 10 student, who is going for their learner’s license in the new year. “I found this presentation very intriguing and relatable to me and my classmates, as most of us want to drive soon and want to have that responsibility and freedom in our lives,” said grade 10 student, Jaidasen Walker.
With many students being able to relate to the presentation, it allows the presenter Cathleen to be able to have fun and keep it interesting for all students. Activities such as using drunk googles while passing a ball back and forth, and using the driving simulator to replicate being under the influence of substances, allows the students to have more fun and stay more focused and intrigued in the presentation. “Cathleen kept us entertained and kept us focused and on task. She really understood how to perform in front of a class of teenagers,” said grade 10 student, Belle Dibblee.
With these ICBC presenters presenting to almost 50,000 students a year, it allows the instructors and presenters an insight into the mindset of the new generation of drivers. Their goal is to lower the number of student deaths in cars due to substances and inform the new generation of drivers.
