The UNITE Corporation is bringing its Arrive Alive Tour to King Philip Regional High School, offering its distracted and impaired driving simulator to students from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6. (Photo Courtesy Arrive Alive Tour)
WRENTHAM — Superintendent Dr. Rich Drolet, Principal Nicole Bottomley, and Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition Coordinator Karen Becker are proud to share that King Philip Regional High School is hosting the Arrive Alive Tour from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6.
The Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition and King Philip Regional High School’s chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions are co-sponsoring this impactful event.
The Arrive Alive Tour, operated by the Michigan-based UNITE Corporation, is bringing its impaired driving simulator to King Philip Regional High School to give students a first-hand experience with the dangers of operating a vehicle while drunk, distracted, or under the influence of drugs. Students will be able to get behind the steering wheel of a vehicle and put on virtual reality goggles, simulating the experience of impaired driving in a safe, controlled environment.
“We look forward to sharing this important lesson with our students,” said Mallory Connors, a school counselor and advisor for the school’s chapter of SADD, who helped organize the event. “I’d encourage parents to discuss this experience with their children who attend King Philip Regional High School. Motor vehicle crashes can have devastating consequences. Together, we can make strides to prevent crashes that are caused by impaired and distracted driving.”
Since its founding in 2009 by Patrick DeGrasse, the UNITE Corporation has brought its impaired driving simulators to high schools, colleges, and corporate clients throughout the country, educating people on the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or distractions such as texting.
The Arrive Alive team’s mission is to educate drivers on the dangers and consequences of impaired and distracted driving and to instill lifelong safe driving habits. The tour also seeks to reduce preventable accidents among young drivers by reinforcing responsible decision-making behind the wheel.
Massachusetts’ Division of Violence and Injury Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death among young drivers. In 2022, Massachusetts saw its highest number of teen driving fatalities since 2008, with 49 people between the ages of 16 and 19 losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes, according to AAA Northeast.
At least half of teen drivers and passengers ages 16-19 years who were killed in passenger vehicle crashes in 2020 were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research indicates that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.
Principal Bottomley and Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition Coordinator Becker said they look forward to hosting this educational event to promote greater awareness of the dangers of drunk, drugged, and distracted driving.
“The Arrive Alive Tour is another chance for us to emphasize to our students the importance of making good decisions,” Coalition Coordinator Becker said. “The Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition would like to encourage all of our students to participate and to see for themselves how dangerous impaired driving is for anyone who gets behind the wheel while texting or under the influence of drugs and alcohol.”
“We are proud to host the Arrive Alive Tour in order to provide students with a clear understanding of the dangers of impaired driving,” Principal Bottomley said. “This program brings this important issue to light in a way that will leave a memorable impression about the risks that are involved. This is such a critical matter for our high school students. I urge all of them to participate and see for themselves what it’s like to drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol, or distracted by texting and social media.”
For more information about the Healthy KP Substance Use Prevention Coalition, resources for parents, or to get involved with Healthy KP, visit healthykp.org or email info@healthykp.org.
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