2015 Don”t Be a Statistic ” Sober Graduation NA15044dm

WHAT:
Press Conference and DUI simulation track to bring awareness to the dangers of driving under the influence to teen drivers.

WHEN:
March 26, 2015 8:30 a.m.

WHERE:
Granada Hills Charter High School
10535 Zelzah Avenue
Granada Hills CA, 91344

WHO:
Mitchell Englander, City of Los Angeles Councilmember, District 12
LAPD Captain Kris E. Pitcher, Operations Valley Bureau Commanding Officer
LAPD Captain John McMahon, Valley Traffic Division Commanding Officer
LAPD Captain Robert E. Marino, Devonshire Area Commanding Officer
Chief Steven Zipperman, Los Angeles School Police Department
CHP Captain John Starling,
West Valley Station Tamar Galatzan
Los Angeles Unified School Board Member Eddie Martinez
State Farm Insurance Brian Bauer, Executive Director Granada Hills Charter High School

WHY:
On March 26, 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Division will kick off its 2015 Sober Graduation Campaign to over 50 High Schools. The schools consist of both public and private, and are located within the San Fernando Valley. The focus is to educate teen drivers on DUI as they prepare for graduation.

In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compiled statistics and determined that from 1982 to 2012, drivers under the age of 21 were responsible for 11% of all road related deaths. In addition, 23% of teenage drivers that were involved in fatal traffic collisions had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. In 2012 alone, almost four hundred thousand teenagers required medical attention from their injuries sustained in a car collision.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.), every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash. Valley Traffic Division will hold this press conference with the intention of informing the general public on the dangers of driving under the influence and to educate our youth on the subject. Selected students from Granada Hills Charter High School will participate in a driving experiment.

With the aid of “Fatal Vision” goggles, which simulate the effects of being under the influence, the students will drive a set course in a golf cart. This will demonstrate the effects of DUI on our young drivers.

There will be two vehicles on display at this event. One vehicle was involved in a DUI traffic collision, and depicts the amount of damage that can result from this type of collision. This vehicle will be accompanied by pictures of other recent DUI traffic collisions.

In order to bring attention to the problem of illegal street racing in the San Fernando Valley, there will be a heavily modified vehicle on display. This vehicle represents the types of modifications made for the purpose of illegal street racing.

CONTACT:
For more information, please contact Sergeant Stephen Egan, Valley Traffic Division, at (818) 644-8146.