Kiwanis Clubs, M.A.D.D Partner For Car Safety Fair At Long Beach High School

LONG BEACH, NY — For adults, the various slogans used to prevent distracted or impaired driving have been so ubiquitous for such a long time that recalling them is almost second-nature. “Drive sober or get pulled over,” “Click it or ticket” and “Drive high, get a DUI” are snappy, but a coalition of Long Beach and Island Park residents brought a different approach to Long Beach High School this week: An in-school education campaign to teach kids about the dangers of driving while impaired.

The effort comes as troubling trends pop up on Long Island with regards to underage drinking, specifically underage drinking that ends with someone getting behind the wheel. An ABC News report from earlier this month said that underage DWI arrests in Nassau County had increased by 13 percent in 2025, while Suffolk County PD had reported a 110 percent increase year-over-year.

In efforts to try and stop that trend, the Long Beach and Island Park Kiwanis Clubs partnered with the Long Beach Police Department and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to bring the day of safety education to Long Beach High School. It was a combination of hands-on learning and reading material, all of which highlighted the importance of safe car usage on multiple fronts.

“A highlight of the event was an interactive driving simulator that immersed students in a range of real-world hazards, reinforcing the importance of responsible decision making behind the wheel,” District officials said.

While M.A.D.D provided information about impaired driving, officials said LBPD was also there to raise awareness and promote safe driving. District officials did not announce a rhyming or alliterative slogan for safe driving efforts Thursday, but thanked the Kiwanis Clubs for their combined efforts to try and keep Long Beach teens safe.

To read the full ABC News report, click here.