Anti-DUI Campaign to Return to Schools

Valley police will visit area high schools again this spring with an auto demolished during a drunk-driving accident, part of a renewed commitment to present an impressive display of the dangers of drinking and driving to impressionable minds, said Sgt. William Bowen of the Valley Traffic Division.

Bowen said that the traffic division’s annual Sober Graduation program, which is privately funded by area businesses, works to curb potential disasters as students end their high school careers with parties.

In the past four springs, traffic officers have visited Valley campuses with a car mangled as the result of its operator driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“We try to find one that has an interesting story behind it,” such as a driver who was a student, Bowen said. “Not only does the crushed car grab their attention, it also gives them an opportunity to talk to a uniformed officer in a non-adversarial setting.”

Joining the officers and crashed auto for added effect will be a police car, various accident scene photographs, anti-drug and -alcohol pamphlets and a hearse donated for use by Praisewater & Sons funeral directors in Van Nuys, Bowen said.

Bowen reported that from Jan. 1 to Nov. 31, 1996, alcohol- and drug-related collisions in the Valley totaled 1,084.

“Collisions are down in every area but [driving under the influence],” Bowen said.

The number of collisions during that time rose by 1.4% from the previous year. “That’s really not a lot,” Bowen said. “We’re talking about 15 more.”

Valleywide, DUI fatalities from Jan. 1 to Nov. 31, 1996, declined 28%, Bowen said.

Last year, Valley Traffic’s Sober Graduation began April 24 at Reseda High School and visited 24 high schools and Cal State Northridge. This year’s start date has not been set, but officials said they expect a similar schedule.