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\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nIt\u2019s become all too common in this day and age to check your phone while driving, but on Wednesday, nearly 300 Winnipeg students got a stark lesson in how dangerous that can be. An annual car crash demonstration was held, showing a visceral example of what distracted driving can lead to.<\/p>\n
The staged demonstration was a collaboration of the Winnipeg Police Service, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service,\u00a0Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Manitoba Brain Injury Association.<\/p>\n
It featured actors and first responders depicting an elaborate and realistic crash followed by a mock funeral.\u00a0All were intended to really stick in the minds of the students watching.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can remind our young youth who are driving the importance of safety behind the wheel and what the outcomes can be, hopefully we\u2019re going to see a decrease in those kinds of outcomes other than mortality,\u201d said Cathy Penwarden, the acting secretary of the Manitoba Brain Injury Association.<\/p>\n
Sgt. Kenneth Pinsent, with the Manitoba RCMP, added, \u201cThat\u2019s the hope, is to put eyes on something and really be part of a production here like this, which should ultimately give them a better idea as opposed to those lectures that you see, or drivers ed, which are all great things, but to actually pull up and watch something happen like this, the intent is to try and curb those behaviours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sgt. Pinsent says while it\u2019s common to think of impaired driving as the number one road safety concern, distracted driving and the use of phones behind the wheel is an even more pressing issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the number one killer. It\u2019s overtaken impaired driving now by a fair margin, and it\u2019s very preventable; just don\u2019t answer your phone and put it down.\u00a0All of our new cars have Apple CarPlay and things where you can be completely hands-free; there\u2019s no reason to be on your phone anymore,\u201d said Sgt. Pinsent.<\/p>\n
Gabi Metzler, a senior at Windsor Park Collegiate High School, says she noticed a somber mood amongst her peers during the performance, and hopes the experience will open students\u2019 eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was pretty realistic. I\u2019ve never seen a car crash just unfold in front of my eyes, so I thought it was a really good representation,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s honestly become a real issue of people using their phones while they\u2019re driving, it\u2019s just kind of the normal now, and people don\u2019t really realize the effects of what can happen, you take your eyes off the road for one second, and your life could be over, it could be changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tMock car crash shows Winnipeg students the dangers of distracted driving. (Eddie Huband, CityNews) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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