Students returning from from the SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) conference on May 13th through 16th came home with a desire to see safer streets in Yorkton.
Two grade 12 students at Yorkton Regional High School-Sky Crane and Stephanie Lessmeister-shared their experience with SADD.
"I've learned about being happy for everything that I have-I came home and told all my friends that I love them," said Crane.
"We've experienced a loss, but there's still bad decisions being made every weekend by our friends."
The loss Crane spoke of was the deaths of their fellow students during the graduation season of 2009.
"Last June we experienced a loss of three people we went to school with, and it made us wake up. We are not invincible," said Lessmeister. Both Lessmeister and Crane joined the school's SADD group during their grade 12 year after the shocking car crash that killed their peers.
After the SADD conference in Regina, students and their instructor, Kristine Anderson, had new ideas to prevent drunk driving in their home region.
"If you're stupid enough to get behind the wheel after drinking, you should have to take responsibility for your actions," said Crane. She said she would like to see harsher sentencing for people violating the law.
"I don't think they should be able to drive at all if they've killed somebody."
The SADD conference taught youth different steps they can take to bring about change at the level of government, and Anderson said that is what they plan to do.
"Were going to try to take it to the next level and lobby the government."
Currently the SADD group runs monthly activities in their school to raise awareness. They hosted "Octsoberfest," the KISS campaign (Keep It Safe and Sober), handed out red ribbons and even held a conference for the school division in March.
"We are very concerned with the long weekend coming up and with graduation," said Anderson. "We have adults making destructive decisions also-this is not just a youth problem."
SADD members want to encourage everyone to pre-plan a ride home or to make other arrangements if alcohol is involved in your plans.
The students also advise people to buckle up, do not text (or speak on the phone) while driving, go the speed limit and do not be afraid to take the car keys away from friends.
