Annual event included mock crash, other activities
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
ROBBINSVILLE — As temperatures rise and spring begins to slowly give way to summer, township seniors will look forward to prom, graduation parties and life beyond high school.
However through a series of speakers, presentations and activities Robbinsville Township educators, public safety officials and others worked to ensure students are equipment with the knowledge to make safe, conscientious decisions when the consequences could be quite literally life and death.
The day started with a bang, or more appropriately a mock crash referred to as Operation Smash, which showed students the harsh realities of how one wrong choice can alter multiple lives.
Seniors watched on as township police, firefighters and EMS personnel descended on the fields adjacent to Robbinsville High School (RHS) to aid their classmates, who portrayed the unfortunate results that can occur when someone drives drunk.
In addition to Operation Smash, students heard personal stories of those lives were impacted by drunk drivers. They also participated in self-defense courses, attempted to operate golf carts while wearing “beer goggles” and participated in simulators designed to mimic distracted driving as well as a myriad of other activities.
Immediately after the mock crash, students assembled in the auditorium to learn more about the direct consequences of driving while intoxicated and possession and consumption of alcohol by a minor.
Officer Barbara Borges told the students of the financial and legal results of someone who is found guilty of DWI and played public service announcements, including one created Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) of RHS, which won the Division of Alcohol Beverage’s annual public service announcement contest.
Officer Borges also offered her firsthand knowledge of the impact of losing a lost one to a drunk driver, telling students how she lost her father and sister nearly 30 years ago.
”My sister never got to experience graduating from high school, never got to go on a first date, never got to kiss a boy or dance,” she said. “My dad never got to see me graduate from the police academy, he never got to see his two grandsons because of somebody’s decision to drink and drive.
”My family was torn apart,” she added. “It’s been 28 years, but sometimes it feels like yesterday. I miss them. I know that my dad would have been proud. I hope you all take this seriously.”
Earlier in the day Superintendent Dr. Steven Mayer told the Messenger Press he hoped the event would instill in the students the importance of realizing there are consequences to all actions.
”Kids by nature feel invincible,” Dr. Mayer said. “Our hope is that we stick a bit of a memory in there for a time of life that we know involves partying sometimes.
”It’s really trying to take away the feeling of I’m invincible, I can do whatever I want,” he added. “(We’re) trying to stick an element of responsibility into the middle of a time of life that is the best time of life to celebrate, but also could have some significant consequences.”
Mayor David Fried echoed those sentiments.
”They never think it can happen to them, so by seeing it I think it’s what really makes them realize it can happen and that’s why they have to be so careful,” Mayor Fried said.
Both Dr. Mayer and Mayor Fried acknowledged the support and coordination of local public safety agencies, the school district and even the State Police, which provided a helicopter during Operation Smash to simulate a helicopter evacuation.
”It’s good for us to do these types of drills,” Mayor Fried said. “Just making sure we’re ready if God forbid something bad happens.”
Senior Andrew Gart, who was one of the students who participated in the mock crash, hoped his fellow classmates learned a valuable lesson.
”It was morbid and a little scary, but it’s a for a good cause,” Andrew said, who added that the various public safety personnel helped prepare him and his classmates to perform the mock crash.
”It’s a nerve-wracking thing, but also again I think everybody is affected by it,” he said. “I want (classmates) to leave with that this just doesn’t happen to random people this can happen to anyone. So just be safe.”