More than 1,200 Culver City High School students experienced an emotionally charged morning May 29.
The day began with a car crash staged on the campus’ front lawn. It was a bold statement showing the damage distracted driving can cause.
Students filed into the auditorium and were met with a casket and what looked to be a funeral.
Eric Bollens, a UCLA graduate, then shared the moving and heartfelt personal experience of losing his best friend, Nick Rosser, in a reckless driving accident. He’s been volunteering to share his story ever since the accident four and a half years ago.
“It was very touching. I felt my heart drop. It would change my life if I lost someone I loved in this way. I always put my phone away when I drive,” said Ruth Basurto, a CCHS student.
“In One Instant” shows high school students they have the power to change the formula that creates the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers.”
These are the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, infused with proms, graduation parties, long weekends and July 4 celebrations, all of which spur distracted and impaired driving, fueling the number one killer of teenagers today, car crashes.
In One Instant empowers each student to make a change and potentially save lives, perhaps even their own.
Amanda Duval, a CCHS upper classman was deeply moved by the presentation.
“It was very emotional. The video made it relatable and made me realize how sad that so many people get into these types of accidents,” she said.
The “In One Instant” safe driving program is designed to instill a lifelong behavioral shift in teens. Through peer engagement, it gets students to make safe driving choices and influence their friends to do the same.
“We’re telling our teens, enjoy the summer, go to parties, go to the beach,'” said “In One Instant” Co-Founder Gail Schenbaum Lawton.
“Just make smart driving choices, so your friends don’t have to drive to your funeral.”
The program starts with a workshop to prepare selected students and parents to lead an all-school assembly. Assembly highlights include a short film screening, haunting funeral dramatization, “Today I Died” letter readings, and taking the “Vow to Live.”
“It really hit home when I, myself, and my mother wrote a goodbye letter to one another. I didn’t believe I would have such a hard reaction while reading it aloud to my peers but I just broke down and cried. I’m so much more cautious while driving and while I’m in the car with others,” said student, Vanessa Perez.
All participants are then urged to join the “In One Instant” school club to spread safe driving tools to their peers.
“As soon as the spotlight hit the casket you could tell everyone was like, ‘This isn’t just another assembly where we horse around and make jokes.’ Kids were really paying attention,” said Santa Monica High School student Olivia Coria Soria.
“I feel it was the most powerful and most moving assembly we probably could have had at school.”
“In One Instant” has received praise by the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Medical Association and UCLA School of Public Health.
