Students to take to the streets to promote anti-drunk driving

The Drunk and Drugged Driving prevention committee said Friday that it will be organizing another activity called Road Side Plea to promote awareness of the campaign against drunk and drugged driving.

According to 3D vice chair Rose T. Ada-Hocog, the committee, together with public school students, will have the students voicing their opinions on the effects of drunk and drugged driving as well as a plea for motorists not to drive while intoxicated.

The hour-long activities will be held every Friday from 5pm to 6pm beginning Nov. 12. It will end on Nov. 26.

During the kick off activity, students from San Vicente Elementary School would make their plea in front of the school; students from Dan Dan Elementary School by the Shell Gas Station in Dan Dan; Koblerville Elementary School and Saipan Southern High School students at the As Perdido traffic light area just north of the Saint Jude Church; and William S. Reyes and San Antonio elementary schools joining with Hopwood Junior High School students in front of Hopwood.

Nov. 19 features students from Marianas High School at the Minachom Atdao area and Oleai Elementary School students at the Microl intersection along Beach Road San Jose. Students at Garapan Elementary School will also gather in front of their school by the four-way intersection near Winchell’s Doughnut House.

Nov. 26 has Kagman high and elementary schools and Cha Cha Oceanview Junior High School students stationed at the Santa Soledad area, students from Tanapag Elementary School in front of their campus, and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School students in front of the fire station in San Roque.

The 3D campaign officially kicks off next month but organizers have already started the ball rolling with pre-kick off events.

Among the events are scheduled presentations at various schools, Life Saver Bagging scheduled at Joeten Hafa Adia Center, Price Costco, and Dolphin’s Wholesale on Nov. 27, and Joeten Hafa Adai Center on Nov. 28, and Cops in the Shop on the weekend after Thanksgiving Day.

During the bagging events, officers and volunteers from the Designated Drivers Program would assist grocery outlets with bagging of purchased items, and in the process, stuff bags with educational materials.

The Cops in the Shop program would feature a police officer in uniform serving non-alcoholic beverages in bars at least once a week.

“The presence of an officer in a bar is a good deterrence in itself. It would calm people down, fights will most likely not take place, and people would think twice about getting into car after drinking,” she said.

Designated drivers will also be tasked to distribute educational materials in bars.

The Cops in the Shop program was inspired by an ongoing program implemented by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Also, a mini-fair would be held on Dec. 3 that would include performances by students on drunk driving.