Students Against Drinking and Driving returns to ECS

ESTEVAN - After a hiatus of over a decade, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) has been revived at the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS).

Spearheaded by teachers Andrea Clausen and Kerri Lawson, the initiative aims to engage students and the community in tackling the dangers of impaired driving.

The program's relaunch was inspired by outreach from the provincial SADD executive, which encouraged the school to restart its chapter, and by collaboration with the Estevan Police Service.

"Last year, the provincial Students Against Drinking and Driving executive reached out to our school because we had a chapter in the past," said Clausen.

Despite initial plans to restart the program in 2023, logistical challenges delayed the launch until this school year.

The group currently has eight members. Clausen noted that for many members, involvement in the school's musical has limited their availability to partake in SADD's activities, but she remains optimistic about the program's future.

"We're hoping to get more active and visual in the new year when we come back after Christmas," she said.

The group's initial activity included a Red Ribbon campaign at the end of November – an effort to raise awareness about impaired driving and the importance of finding a safe ride home. Clausen credited the provincial SADD organization for making it easy to restart the chapter, providing resources and campaign ideas.

"They send out a bunch of information with ideas and things that you can do. … It makes it quite easy to start up a chapter," she said.

She noted the feedback for their Red Ribbon campaign from the community and students involved alike was really positive.

"It was shared on our school social media, and there were lots of people resharing, commenting and liking it, so it was really good. I think everybody wants more of a message out there for students not to be, not just drinking and driving, but also not driving impaired or driving distracted," Clausen said. "And kids thought it was fun. It was very cold the night that we went. Some of them were wishing that they had more layers, but it was good. They were happy to do it. They were excited to be out there just spreading the message."

Clausen emphasized the importance of peer-to-peer messaging in promoting responsible driving among youths.

"It's peer-to-peer, so instead of adults telling them that they can't do it [drive while impaired], it's their peers telling them they shouldn't be doing it, which is always better," she said.

Looking ahead, the group will have regular meetings and plans to collaborate with the EPS on initiatives such as check stops and with the local liquor stores on liquor bag decorations featuring anti-drinking and driving messages. They are also considering organizing a mock crash, a large-scale awareness event requiring community collaboration.

Reflecting on her motivation to lead the program, Clausen expressed concern about an increase in impaired driving among young people that she is noticing.

"I've noticed kind of an uptick in the younger population driving impaired. I think that it's actually becoming more prevalent instead of less prevalent," she said. "So, I feel like we need to get the message out there that it's not the cool thing to do."

If students are interested in becoming a member of ECS' Students Against Drinking and Driving, they can visit Clausen in Room 301.