DHSHS holds ‘Every 15 Minutes’ drunk driving awareness program

Desert Hot Springs High School juniors and seniors began a two-day responsible-driving program Tuesday, complete with a simulated car crash and mock trial for drunk drivers.

The “Every 15 Minutes” program is hosted over two days with the goal of reducing drunk driving among youth, city officials said. The first day of the program will include a simulated car accident, while the second day will walk students through the aftermath of driving under the influence, including a funeral, police interrogation and trial.

“The two-day Every 15 Minutes program is very dramatic and emotional — and purposely so,” according to a statement from city officials. “Teenagers are constantly reminded about the choices they have to make involving alcohol and how many others are affected by their decisions. They know the intellectual statistics. However, many teens share the belief it will never happen to them.”

Desert Hot Springs High School will provide counselors for students that have an emotional reaction to the program, officials said.

“There are people who pass away in alcohol-related traffic incidents every day and the idea is to make our students be aware of the consequences of getting into a car with a drunk driver or themselves getting behind the wheel after drinking,” said DHSHS principal Caroline Cota.

In partnership with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department and Desert Hot Springs High School, the program is intended to challenge young drivers to think about drinking, driving, personal safety and how the community is affected by their decisions. Representatives from the California Highway Patrol, Desert Regional Medical Center, emergency first responders, as well as local businesses and service organizations will be in attendance.

“This powerful program is designed to create an awareness among students that they are not invincible,” city officials said. “This program helps open the emotional doors, and they experience first-hand how their actions affect the lives of so many other people.”

The program will take place for about an hour on Tuesday at the high school at Cholla Avenue and Pierson Boulevard. The second day of the program will begin around 10:30 a.m. and is expected to conclude around 11:45 a.m.

Around 1,000 juniors and seniors are expected to attend the program.