Barnegat Juniors Learn About Distracted Driving In Pre-Prom Event

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat High School juniors got a taste of the dangers of distracted driving when the district held its first-ever distracted driving awareness event for the junior class.

The Arrive Alive event held on April 29 helped juniors experience the sensation of distracted and impaired driving through simulations. It was a wake-up call for the students, who are new or soon-to-be drivers.

“It was hard to control. I wasn’t used to it,” said junior Jonathan Medina, who said he hasn’t yet had real-world driving experience. Medina said he wouldn’t have considered getting behind the wheel intoxicated, even before this activity. “Being intoxicated behind the wheel was hard. I mean, off instinct I will never be under the influence behind the wheel.”

That type of observation is exactly why school administrators and safety officers brought in this initiative to educate students, specifically 11th-graders, according to a district news release.

All 11th-grade physical education classes, totaling more than 270 students, participated in UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour, which stages the impact of distracted driving using a stationary vehicle and virtual-reality goggles. Other students watched the experience from an exterior monitor. Once students completed their course, many of which never made it to the final route, they received a mock DUI citation detailing their traffic offenses.

“I’ve never gotten into an accident before. I’m a pretty good driver,” said junior Corinne Friser. Even with her confidence, she says this experience taught her to “be more responsible and know when not to get in the car and drive.”

Barnegat High School requires students to take drivers ed courses in 10th grade and hosts Project CRASH for the senior class just before prom. While Project CRASH uses similar messaging, students learn from seeing an accident simulation as opposed to the interactive Arrive Alive experience. Vice Principal Frank Pannullo and School Resource Officer Brian Weber of the Barnegat Police Department saw the benefits of bringing the Arrive Alive Tour to the high school.

“This program gives the children the opportunity to experience potentially drinking and driving without the consequences of drinking and driving,” said Weber. “We’re taking a very proactive approach in educating the students before they get into the car. Years ago, I don’t think that was the case. With the ability to now have programs like this come to our school, we can provide better educational opportunities and hopefully keep kids from participating in distracted or intoxicated like this in the real world.”

Barnegat Township School District Superintendent Brian Latwis said the safety lessons are an extension of educating students.

"It's our job as educators to empower students not just with knowledge, but with life-saving awareness,” said Latwis. “With interactive opportunities like this, we’re teaching them to be responsible citizens who understand the gravity of their actions behind the wheel. It's through this education that we pave the road for safer communities."

The Arrive Alive Tour is offered through the UNITE organization, which describes itself as “a tech company with social responsibility.”