Mississippi high school offers "Drunk Driving" safety course

(Jackson Flats, Miss.) One Mississippi high school is taking a unique approach to tackling the issue of underage drunk driving. Rutherford B. Hayes high school in Jackson Flats has announced it will offer a new class this fall entitled "Drunk Driving and You: A look a drinking safely behind the wheel". The class will examine common weaknesses that most drunk youth display while driving, and work to correct these problems through detailed textbook assignments and drunk driving practice with a certified instructor.

"Since 2002, we've seen a large spike in the number of alcohol-related traffic accidents throughout the state." says Mississippi Superintendent of Public Instruction Blake Peterson, "Our research has shown that these kids are terrible drivers, even while sober. Classes like the one being offered at Rutherford B. Hayes, actually help drunk teenagers improve their hand-eye coordination and reaction times while under the influence of alcohol."

The new class has received widespread praise among the state's educators who say such a program has been long overdue. Judy Andrews, mother of two teenage sons agrees. "My only hope is we'll be able to show these kids that its okay to admit that you have a problem. You just have to say to yourself 'I'm just a bad driver. I need help'."

The class will offer students a wide range of driving experiences with various types of alcohol beverages; from soft, fruit-flavored social drinks to harder 'vomit-inducing' liquors. The experience will be reinforced by 3 hours of classroom lecture and textbook study per week, followed by a comprehensive exam.

"If we can help one kid learn the importance of driving drunk responsibly," says Peterson "then the taxpayer money we spent to put this class together will have been well worth it."