Posted April 13, 2015

Roman Catholic High School students participated in a summit on safe driving with the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) on Thursday, April 9, during their theology period in the school gym.  The event was organized by Roman’s S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter.

While wearing goggles that simulated the effects of intoxication, students were challenged to shoot basketballs, walk a straight line and virtually drive in a Mario Kart video game. They also operated a driving simulator while texting to learn those effects.

Echoing the day’s theme of “Lend a Hand,” students received pamphlets with information and wrote what they learned about safe driving on colorful paper hands that were hung in the school for all to see. Organizations including Shalom, State Farm Insurance and AT&T helped prepare the event with the students and NOYS, which aims to save lives, prevent injuries, and promote safe and healthy lifestyles among all youth. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

Students wrote on hands things they learned or can pledge to do to not be a distracted driver.

Students wrote the things they learned or pledged to do to not be a distracted driver.

Seniors Manny Taylor battles Gary Thompson in Mario Kart. Manny had the advantage as Gary was wearing goggles to simular being under the influence.

Seniors Manny Taylor (left) plays Gary Thompson in a Mario Kart video game. Manny had the advantage as Gary wore goggles that simulated driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Students play each other in Mario Kart with some wearing intoxicated goggles and other not.

Students compare the game play of those who wore intoxication simulators and those who did not.

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Students wrong messages on paper hands of what they can do to not be a distracted drive and then the hands were hung on a board.

Students write messages on paper hands of what they can do to avoid distracted driving. The hands were displayed on a board.

Sophmore Harry White attempts a driving simulator while texting with his friend Thomas Howard.

Sophomore Harry White attempts to use a driving simulator while texting with his friend Thomas Howard.

Teeshirts for NOYS that said Take a Stand, Lend a Hand, Responsible Driver are in Demand, Don't Drive Distracted! were given to all SADD members and raffled off to other students.

T-shirts for NOYS were given to all SADD members of Roman Catholic and raffled off to other students.

Joshua Baskerville (junior) unsuccessfully walks a stright line with google that simulate being intoxicated.

Joshua Baskerville, a Roman junior, tries to walk a straight line with goggles that simulate being intoxicated.

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Joshua Baskerville (junior) unsuccessfully walks a stright line with google that simulate being intoxicated.

Friends might find it funny, but Joshua Baskerville discovers how hard it is to walk a straight line with an intoxication simulator.

Pamphlets were available for students. If they answered a question based off information from the pamphlet right they got a lollipop.

If students correctly answered a question based on information in one of several safety pamphlets, they got a lollipop.

Jarrett Nast (senior) try to make a basket with googles on that simulate being under the influence. He came no where near making it.

Jarrett Nast (senior) tries to make a basket while wearing goggles that simulate being under the influence. He came nowhere near making his shot.

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SADD officers Timothy Martinez, Allen Smith, Matthew Delia (vice president), Thomas Leonard, Sean Devlin (president), Christopher Bunch, Michael Schwoerer, Joe Coffey (all seniors)

SADD officers (from left) are Timothy Martinez, Allen Smith, Matthew Delia (vice president), Thomas Leonard, Sean Devlin (president), Christopher Bunch, Michael Schwoerer, and Joe Coffey (all seniors).

Students wrote on hands things they learned or can pledge to do to not be a distracted driver.