Local students take part in an accident simulation with impaired driving skills

Huron Area Technical Center’s Law/Public Safety program conducted an impaired driving crash simulation last week. See page 2 for more photos. (Photo by Seth Stapleton)

BAD AXE – Huron Area Technical Center students learned firsthand the dangerous consequences of impaired driving last week.

The simulation was conducted by the Tech Center’s Law and Public Safety Program. Program director Ryan Swartz said he came up with the idea after becoming concerned that students across the county wouldn’t be able to make smart decisions before prom season.

“I thought it was a good picture, and if kids behind it are making bad decisions and going out partying, at least they’re responsible enough not to get behind the wheel,” Swartz said. “That’s what we wanted to achieve.”

During the day, an accident simulation was carried out once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Officials from numerous local law enforcement, fire and emergency services, and local businesses were present at the event. Assisting were the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police Caro Post, Bad Ax and Harbor Beach Fire Departments, Huron County Central Dispatch, Central Huron and Scheurer Ambulance, McLaren Thumb Region, St. Mary’s Flight Care, Ramsey Funeral Home and T&J Towing and Chuck’s Towing.

Swartz said the students did much of the organizing and reaching out to local authorities, using some of his contacts from working in law enforcement for 22 years before moving into teaching a few years ago.

He said everyone was more than willing to help.

“Everyone agrees,” he said. “Nobody wants to experience a drunk driving accident – ​​especially not when children are involved. Everyone was more than willing to help and I thought it worked out really well. For the first time I was very satisfied.”

Swartz said the majority of Huron County juniors and seniors come to the Tech Center for classes, so it was very convenient to hold the event there.

In addition to the efforts of students in the law/public safety program, three other Tech Center programs participated: cosmetology students applied makeup to the victims, the visual communications course recorded the simulation to compile a video for future use, and hospitality/students of the catering area prepare lunch for all volunteers.

“The Tech Center had four different programs that were involved in one way or another,” Swartz said. “So it was a good team effort all around.”

Following the event, Swartz said he received a lot of good feedback, with some students coming up to him and telling him how powerful the day was.

“That’s what we wanted to achieve,” he said. “We want these kids to think twice before they get behind the wheel. That’s the bottom line.”