VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — When you check your phone or send a quick text while driving, you may not think about what could happen in those five seconds. On Wednesday, local teens saw the potential consequences of distracted driving for themselves.
Landstown High students stepped out of the classroom for a walk-through demonstration, called “Arrive Alive,” to see how officials respond to a car wreck.
First responders treated the mock demonstration like a real 911 call: they removed victims, played by students, from a car wreck and an air ambulance flew one of them to a trauma center.
The students even walked into the small morgue at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital—highlighting the deadly consequences of distracted driving.
The demonstration was organized and presented by the Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach Fire and EMS and Sentara.
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Sgt. Christopher Washington with Virginia Beach police told students he hopes witnessing the fallout of a car crash helps them better understand how dangerous distracted driving is.
"What I hope you get from this Arrive Alive event that we're putting on is you can't take for granted the things you do normally," said Sgt. Washington.
After seeing the demonstration, students told News 3's Kelsey Jones they're going to think twice before using their phones behind the wheel.
"Not only do you take care of yourself [by not driving distracted], you take care of your friends and make sure they're okay as well."
