OAKVILLE, Ontario, Sept. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MADD Canada’s latest School Assembly Program depicts some hard, but vital, lessons for students about the reality of impaired driving.
Titled No Tomorrow and supported by the LCBO, the 45-minute program explores how mixing alcohol and/or drugs with driving can have devastating and permanent consequences.
Crashes were the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years in 2014, and MADD Canada estimates more than half of those crashes involved alcohol and/or drugs.
“No Tomorrow shows young people that they are not invincible and that tomorrow is never guaranteed,” said MADD Canada National President Patricia Hynes-Coates. “One single decision to drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver can change everything, forever. We want them to understand the consequences, and to make a promise to never drive impaired.”
MADD Canada and the LCBO host a special screening of No Tomorrow today at Middlefield Collegiate Institute in Markham to highlight the program’s tour of schools across Ontario.
“LCBO is proud to support MADD Canada in this important education initiative,” said Jennifer Bell, Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, LCBO “The program’s reach will impact more than 500,000 Ontario students, helping them understand the risks of impaired driving and empower them to make responsible decisions that keep themselves and their friends safe.”
No Tomorrow tells the story of bandmates Marcus, Corey, Trevor and Lee. After winning a contest to record a demo, they get an incredible chance to audition for a music school. Before their audition, Trevor has a few drinks. He is affected more than he thinks, and makes mistakes during the audition. Marcus is offered a spot at the school right away, and Corey and Lee are given an opportunity to re-apply next year. But Trevor, who was obviously impaired during the audition, is not offered a spot or chance to re-apply. The school has a zero tolerance policy for alcohol or drugs. Trevor storms off to the car. Marcus tries unsuccessfully to take the keys. Realizing he can’t stop Trevor from driving away, Marcus jumps in the car. What happens next changes all of their lives forever.
The fictional story in No Tomorrow is followed by testimonials from real-life victims who talk about their loved ones who were killed or seriously and permanently injured in impaired driving crashes.
A clip of the new program is available on MADD Canada’s web site.
Over the current school year, four School Outreach Field Representatives will travel the province, delivering approximately 1,400 presentations at schools. Thanks to LCBO’s generous support, the program will be delivered at absolutely no cost to students or schools.
The formal presentation is supplemented by an Educators’ Guide to help teachers and counsellors continue the crucial sober driving conversation throughout the school year.
Student surveys show that MADD Canada’s efforts to reach young people with the sober driving message are working. In a 2015-2016 survey of students who saw that year’s School Assembly Program, titled 24 Hours: 80% of respondents said the program was effective in delivering its message about not driving while impaired; two-thirds of respondents said the presentation will be effective in changing behaviours regarding impaired driving; and 97% of respondents supported a similar presentation the following year.
Note to Assignment Editors: For information on when No Tomorrow is visiting your area, please contact Deb Kelly, MADD Canada Communications Manager, at 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or dkelly@madd.ca.