Students around the province will see important lessons on driving impaired, starting this week, thanks to MADD Canada’s School Program, a partnership between MADD Canada and the NSLC.

Educational videos will be shown to students between Grades 7 and 12 to engage in a realistic conversation about what is at stake when someone drives impaired. Three films will be shown, Final Play, No Tomorrow or Over the Edge, and this year, schools can choose which one they want to show. Each video shows a fictional story, followed by a real-life story from victims of impaired driving.

“We bring this program into schools to engage students in this vital conversation,” said MADD Canada National President Tanya Hansen Pratt. “We want them to understand that lives are at stake whenever someone drives impaired by alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. Most importantly, we want them to know that each one of them can prevent impaired driving, and the tragic outcomes that can result, by making safe and responsible choices.”

There will be 60 presentations shown around the province this year in English and French, starting in Dartmouth and Halifax.

“Responsibility is at the heart of who we are and everything we do at the NSLC,” said Greg Hughes, President and CEO of the NSLC. “We are proud to continue working alongside MADD Canada to bring this life-saving message to Nova Scotia students. We encourage young people, and all Nova Scotians, to make the commitment to always drive sober and in doing so protect themselves, their peers and their communities.”

MADD Canada says road crashes are the number one cause of death in youth and more than half are caused by alcohol, cannabis and/or drugs.