Healthy Living: Choices 301
You may have heard it on the news or perhaps you know someone: A family who has lost a teenager to a car crash. Marcie Fraser takes a look at a program call Choices 301 that is saving lives.
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You don't think it’s going to happen to you, the death of teenager in a car crash. But statistics don't lie. In fact, it's indicated that fourteen teenagers die each week in a car crash.
"We are in a downward spiral. How many more body bags do we need along the road?" asked Ed Frank, director of Choices 301.
Ed Frank and his son were police officers. His son loved to race cars, and together they spoke to schools, teaching them that speed is okay, but only on race tracks. But tragedy hit. His son died, but Ed kept their mission alive.
"We do the program in his memory. We carry it on and saying its Choices 301, 301 was his radio identifier we picked it up and started going with it," said Frank.
And going with it he did. This year so far, 1,800 people have visited the program, which provides videos and vivid pictures of the many kids killed in accidents, even a row of coffins representing the five people killed by a drunk driver.
"If we can reach one and get the message out to them it's not cool to drink and drive, underage or get in car where someone has been drinking," said Frank.
Ronny Mima, 18, who has admitted to driving drunk before, says he feels lucky he hasn't killed himself or someone else. He's now sober and thankful he's making better choices.
"It's the choice you, you make if you want to be a leader. Once I became a leader I don't need alcohol," said Ronny Mima, Making Choices, 301.
The room is filled with deadly memories. A BMW, now in three parts, was owned by a 22-year-old who died when he lost control of his car while speeding.
There are 301 pairs of shoes on the wall representing 301 people who were killed in 2005 in car crashes. It is just one visual that sends home their message.
“This room speaks for itself, this room speaks volumes. We have so much emotions in this room through all these kids coming here actually breaking down, they see what happens. The consequences are here," said Frank.
For more information, visit http://www.choices301.com/.