By Jan Spann

With drunken driving accidents leading as the largest single killer of American teens, a coalition of adults in Conway County are doing something to change that statistic.
Each spring, speakers representing county EMTs, the sheriff’s department, Office of Emergency Management, MedTech, the county judge and the coroner’s office bring their message to high school juniors and seniors.

The images and words in this event are sobering. Impaired drivers account for more than 30 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities, and 31 percent of teen traffic deaths are alcohol-related. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 2 to 34 years of age.
The 100 Proof Program includes actual Conway County incidents, showing the mangled wreckage of vehicles and the consequence of lives lost, grave injuries and grieving families and friends.
The effects of impaired drivers represents a $124 billion annual cost to the American economy, which includes monetary costs, quality of life losses, insurance claims payments and medical expenses.
Center Ridge Principal Jeff Andrews supports the program for two reasons – it relates to curriculum in Health, History, Oral Communications and Math Statistics. “Most importantly,” Andrews notes, “student safety is a priority, and 100 Proof makes these teens aware of the often tragic result of faulty judgment.”
Presenters tell the students that this day is not about scare tactics but instead the reality of DUI consequences. One dramatic set of statistics shocks the students, who immediately give full attention to the speaker. In Finland, first offenders are sentenced to one year of hard labor in jail. South African drunken drivers face 10 years behind bars. After learning that El Salvador executes first offenders, these teens begin to realize the impact of reckless decisions.
The graphic illustrations have made an impact over the past several years the program has been presented. Denise Carson, owner of the Conway County MedTech, verifies that the county has seen a decrease in teen drunken driving crashes since the 100 Proof Program’s inception four years ago.
The program goal involves the teens, their parents and the community. Volunteer speakers advise the students to plan ahead and ask someone to be their crisis buddy. It could be a parent, teacher, coach or pastor. Sharing that the teen may lose cell phone privileges, but they won’t lose their life.
The 100 Proof Program is coordinated through the Conway County Judge’s office, and Emergency Services Director Brandon Baker takes the lead. He points out that one of the toughest tasks for first responders in a small community is to personally know one or more or the victims.
“This program portrays the hazards of drinking and driving and emphasizes individual responsibility,” Baker says. “With more than 100-plus years of combined experience, the volunteer speakers represent county fire, law enforcement and emergency services. They bring compelling facts and photos of Conway County crashes.”
The fact that the county has not had a single teen crash fatality in the past four years confirms the program’s success. The experience ends with students donning ‘drunk glasses’ which simulate an intoxicated driver’s vision.
Just before spring prom, students are bussed to one location where a simulated mock crash allows the students an up-close inspection of a crash scene.
Teen years should be filled with a promise of great expectations. To assure that possibility, a community of caring adults has pledged to keep drunken driving accidents from killing those dreams.