Sober Graduation ” “Don”t Be A Statistic” NA13056SF

WHAT:
News Conference to announce LAPD’s 2013 Sober Graduation Program initiatives for San Fernando Valley to ensure our teenagers are safe on the road.  Sober Graduation targets High School Seniors and raises their awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving as well as distracted driving.

WHEN:
Monday, April 8, 2013

WHERE:
Granada Hills Charter High School
10535 Zelzah Avenue
Granada Hills, California  91344
8:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

WHO:
Councilmember Dennis Zine, Los Angeles City Council Member
Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Los Angeles City Council Member
Captain Ivan Minsal, Acting Commanding Officer, Operations-Valley Bureau
Captain Brian Pratt, Commanding Officer Valley Traffic Division
Chief Steven Zipperman, Los Angeles Unified School Police
Corey Reed, Motivational Speaker and Victim of Drunk Driving Accident

WHY:
The Sober Graduation Program was established in 1985 as an effective anti-DUI program targeting high school seniors and raising their awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving as well as distracted driving.  As spring activities and celebrations mark the end of the school year with graduation celebration and proms, officers from the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division visit more than 50 schools in the San Fernando Valley in an attempt to re-enforce driver and peer responsibility.

The program includes static displays and demonstration of a field sobriety test while a student wears “Fatal Vision” goggles.  The goggles simulate the effects of being under the influence.  The static display includes a vehicle that has been associated with a fatal traffic collision and a photo gallery that depicts the consequences of driving under the influence or driving distracted.  A newly acquired state of the art interactive distracted driving simulator which allows students to observe how driving distracted or under the influence affects their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely will be available for demonstration.

Corey Reed is a survivor of a DUI related traffic collision.  Corey was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by his good friend who was under the influence.  Their vehicle became involved in a DUI related traffic collision.  As a result, Corey lost his eyesight and his right leg below the knee.

For more information, please contact Media Relations at 213-486-5910, Sergeant Stephen Egan 818-644-8146 or Detective William Bustos at 213-841-9060.