DA Announces Program, PSA On Teen Impaired, Distracted Driving

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — In the raging battle to fight the insidious opioid crisis stealing lives county and nationwide, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini announced a new outreach program yesterday aimed at educating high school students and their parents on the dangers of impaired and reckless driving.

The program, “Choices and Consequences,” is a dynamic, engaging presentation that is provided by assistant district attorneys and detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s Vehicular Crime Bureau, Sini said.

“Whether it’s texting and driving, drinking or doing drugs and driving, these decisions can be fatal,” Sini said. “The ‘Choices and Consequences’ program drives that message home to teens and their parents by using real-life examples that unfortunately have changed lives forever, have taken lives from us prematurely, and have devastated victims’ families and friends here in Suffolk County.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of death for people in the United States between the ages of 15 and 24 is motor vehicle crashes, Sini said. In Suffolk County, the leading causes of those crashes is impaired driving and the second leading cause is reckless or distracted driving, he added.

During his time as Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Sini said motor vehicle crashes within the police district were reduced by more than 30 percent as a result of a multi-pronged enforcement effort to increase traffic safety.

“I’m proud to say that the Suffolk County Police Department and its partners have been successful in reducing motor vehicle crashes that result in serious physical injuries or fatalities, but enforcement is just one piece of our approach,” Sini said. “We need to educate; we need to raise awareness of making bad decisions behind the wheel.”

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s “Choices and Consequences” program is based on a presentation created in the Kings County district attorney’s office that was later adopted by the Nassau County district attorney’s office.

The presentation includes facts and statistics on impaired and reckless driving; interactive skits that show how police officers respond to motor vehicle crash scenes and detect impairment; and demonstrations of the impacts of alcohol and drugs on motor skills, Sini said.

In addition, the partnership with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence , the scope of the “Choices and Consequences” program has now been expanded to educate participants about the dangers of substance use and abuse in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic, including a new public service announcement.

LICADD, in conjunction with the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation, recently released the PSA, “Hey Charlie,” that highlights the progression of drug addiction and encourages those struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with the two organizations to include a screening of the PSA during the “Choices and Consequences” program.

“LICADD is proud to partner with the District Attorney’s Office as they take the lead in making sure that this life-saving education is provided to every student and every parent in Suffolk County,” Steve Chassman, executive director of LICADD, said. “It’s so important when dealing with a disease that is potentially preventable to get this message out in every Long Island school. This is how we are going to turn the corner on this epidemic.”

“We have proms, graduations and the summer months coming up, so it’s the perfect time for schools to invite us in to provide this presentation,” Sini said. “It’s a terrific opportunity for schools to be on the cutting edge of education and prevention.”

Patch courtesy photo, video.