On Thursday, May 14, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Start Smart program held a session of its teen safe-driving program in the Archie Williams library. Fierce advocate for the program, Mark Dale, and CHP officer Arthur Tellez presented the program from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The presentation included CHP videos, exercises that simulated drug impairment, and personal advice from Dale and Tellez about how to stay safe on the road.

The presentation included several videos, many of which showed the effects of drug impairment on the road, while others illustrated the devastating impacts that crashes have. The presentation began with a video highlighting a crash in Orange County in which five teenagers passed away. 

It was videos like those that sophomore Aurora Garcia found compelling. Aurora, after the event, developed newfound respect for the rules of the road.

“[The videos] were really emotionally compelling, and it was a really big wake-up call to how often tragedies happen to our community. [To see] how many lives are taken [and] how many are injured,” Aurora said.

After showing videos regarding the impacts of crashes, the presentation addressed how to prevent these accidents and how every driver on the road holds a certain responsibility for the safety of others. Officer Tellez believes that by minimizing distractions in the car, fewer fatal crashes will occur, especially for teenagers. During the presentation, Tellez emphasized that teens are exponentially more likely to be involved in a crash when other teens are present in the car, rather than just driving alone.

“Some people think that distracted driving is only being on your cell phone, but distracted driving comes with taking your eyes and your attention away from the road in any way. It means looking around, having your mind on different things, talking to your passengers, your passengers talking to you, and the loud radio. People think that they can multitask,” Tellez said.

Mark Dale, a longtime supporter of CHP Start Smart, is a prominent Marin County advocate and founder of Families for Safer Schools. Dale has specifically worked to create safer school environments, including efforts to reduce teen substance use and to increase awareness of mental health issues. One of Dale’s tips for teen drivers concerns speed mixed with distracted driving.

“Just slow it down, because when you’re going too fast, your ability to control the vehicle [lessens]… Also, don’t let distractions happen, be it your cell phone or somebody in your car who’s distracting you. It’s that easy, and if you take your eyes off the road for a second, you can end up in a crash,” Dale said.

Distracted driving was one of the main topics of conversation in the presentation, but the presentation also covered the effects that alcohol and other drugs have on driving. Officer Tellez simulated what it was like to receive field sobriety tests while under the influence of drugs.

Aurora volunteered to conduct a field sobriety test while wearing heavily distorted goggles. She attempted to walk heel-to-toe in a straight line while wearing these goggles, testing her mobility and coordination while being “under the influence.”

“I liked the engaging parts where they had [us use goggles because] you just got to experience more, [especially] if you’ve never experienced drugs or things like that. It’s nice to know how it feels when you really are inebriated. You’re not in the sense that you can really control your body,” Aurora said.

At the conclusion of the event, Officer Tellez signed certificates for all the young drivers in attendance, which demonstrates the driver training event. Dale wants this class taught in high schools throughout the county every fall and spring. Dale emphasized his gratitude to the Archie Williams administration, and Principal Gran in particular, who enabled the event to happen.