Prom season is upon us in Osceola County as we enter into the final month of the 2016-2017 school year in Osceola County. It’s a wonderful time and one to be mindful of the inherent danger for those who are graduating. Every year we see senseless tragedies throughout the United States as graduates make the terrible choice of drinking and driving, or texting while driving. Osceola County is not immune to the threat and loss, as we all too often see fatalities take place as a result of a poor decision at this time of the year.

Accidents are the number one cause of death for young people ages 12 to 19, and those involving motor vehicles are the most common. Statistics show roughly a third of alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities occur between April and June, which is considered the peak of prom season.

On Friday the Osceola County School for the Arts held a Prom Promise event, that’s single goal was to cause the students to be mindful of the danger that is connected to drinking or texting while driving. It was an enactment presented by OCSA, Osceola Sheriff’s Office, Osceola Fire Rescue, Osceola Memory Gardens and AAA.

Hundreds of students witnessed the true-to-life consequences of making a wrong decision. The mock exercise covered the hazards of texting and driving as well as drunk driving. The drama club students played the victims, as well as adults portraying the devastated mother of a child who was killed in the accident and a sheriff’s officer portrayed by OCSA’s Resource officer.

It was an eye-opener for all the students. Some were aware of the dangers, but seeing the mock scenario first-hand increased their level of awareness and their future actions.