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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 26, 2013 | 4 MADD offers sneak peek of Smashed video by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver Don't drink and drive. It's a simple yet poignant message from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, but one that often goes unheeded. The Oakville-based national grassroots organization says motor vehicle crashes is the leading cause of death among 15-25-year-olds. Alcohol is a factor in nearly 50 per cent of the accidents. One of MADD Canada's preventive measures against drinking and driving is education. Its 2013-14 School Assembly Program film Smashed, gives students a realistic look at how quickly impaired driving crashes can happen and the consequences. Included is the 39-minute film depicting a fictional scenario involving high school students, drugs and drinking and driving. The video concludes with real-life victims sharing their stories of personal loss. While the film debuts in September, MADD Canada showed a sneak peek to cast and crew, sponsors, Halton police and EMS personnel at the Oakville SilverCity theatre recently. "(Youths) still represent, unfortunately, one-third of the impaired driving deaths. (There are) too many deaths and too many young people making bad decisions when cent since its prevention campaigns started in 1980. At the time, about 70 per cent of teen deaths were from alcohol-related road crashes. "We have made progress (with youths) and the adult population. Every one of these deaths is preventable. It didn't have to happen. "You didn't have to get behind the wheel (or) you didn't have to get into a car with a drinking driver," said Murie. Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Bob Percy said one of its primary focuses is youth education and ensuring they make effective decisions. The partnership it has with MADD Canada is "ideal in spreading the message." "Any medium we can use to get the message out is fantastic. The reputation and awareness that MADD (Canada) has in the community is second to none," said Percy. Programs include B.R.A.V.O. (Building Respect And Values with Others), which From left, actors Nick James and Tino Notarianni, with MADD Canada CEO Andy Murie at the screening of helps with decision-making for Grade 6, 7 MADD Canada's new educational program, Smashed, at Silver City. and 8 students, and the annual R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) 101. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) The latter is a three-phase program it comes to alcohol, drugs and driving," alcohol-related crash deaths, according to geared towards high school students about the risks of impaired driving. It includes said MADD Canada CEO Andrew Murie. MADD Canada. In 2008, 16-25-year-olds represented While the number of youth-impaired-re- on-campus demonstrations and displays, 13.7 per cent of the Canadian population, lated accidents is still high, Murie said, the as well as driver spot checks and the use of but accounted for nearly 33 per cent of all numbers have dropped by about 125 per see Just on p.5 PRESENTED BY: MEDIA PARTNERS: UNDER THE BIG TOP OAKVILLE/MISSISSAUGA OAKVILLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRUM TheShrineCircus G C Q . !L?? July 25 - 28 @theshrinecircus YOUR MAGICAL MOMENTS ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY... BUY 2 FOR THE PRICE OF 1 www.shrine-circus.com DISCOUNT TICKETS WITH PROMO CODE: HORSE Your local Tim Hortons is happy to bring you Tim Hortons Free Swim Enjoy complimentary swimming time at your local pool. For a schedule of times drop by your Oakville Tim Hortons Restaurant or visit www.timhortons.com. TICKETS: EaST SIdE MarIo'S, 2035 WInSTon ParK drIvE or To rECEIvE dISCounT TICKETS, brIng ThIS ad To ThE bIg ToP box offICE ­ oPEn daIly aT 10aM on ShoW dayS. CaSh SalES only. Acts subject to change.