Senior Student Safety Event Saturday

An event this weekend at Lakeview High School is meant to highlight safe driving for high school students.  The Battle Creek Police Department will be hosting the event, here is their announcement:

BCPD to host Senior Safety Day event

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The Battle Creek Police Department invites graduating high school seniors to learn more about the dangers of drunk and distracted driving during Senior Safety Day.

The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, in the parking lot of Lakeview High School, 15060 Helmer Road South.

Students will be able to participate in two driving courses set up to simulate drunk driving and texting while driving. There also will be an Army National Guard obstacle course and free food.

“We want to reach the people who think that this type of driving is OK — those who justify it by saying they’ve never crashed before,” said BCPD Sgt. Troy Gilleylen. “No text is worth a life.”

According to national statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, in 2013, 3,154 people lost their lives in distracted driving crashes and 10,076 lost their lives in drunk driving crashes. In 2011 more than 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

More than 660,000 people are using a cell phone or manipulating an electronic device while driving at any given moment.

Special thanks to State Farm agent Ernie Lahusky, Michigan State Police, Binder Park Golf Course, Army National Guard, the Lakeview Public School District and Sam’s Club of Battle Creek for assisting with this event.