North Vancouver authorities stage mock crash for high school PSA

GRAPHIC WARNING: The following images and details, though simulated, may disturb some readers. 

Local authorities staged a mock car crash at Windsor Secondary School in North Vancouver Thursday to educate teens about the importance of road safety as grad season approaches. 

The activity placed students at the forefront of a lifelike scenario to help them understand the consequences of reckless and impaired driving.

The event was a multi-agency collaboration with the RCMP, ICBC, and First Responders from Vancouver Fire Rescue Services.

Student actors played out a car-crash scenario caused by texting and driving with added visual effects of prosthetic injuries created by professional makeup artists.

Corp. Mansoor Sahak with the New Westminster Police Department says the project aims to reach many schools in the North Vancouver School District. Every year, the event has a new theme and location, with this year’s focusing on distracted driving.

Sahak says the target audience is graduating teens, and those who are about to get on the road. In the average year, he says youth are involved in between 600 and 300 collisions and 28 youth are killed on British Columbia roads.

“Setting up roadblocks and ticketing people and all, that’s one aspect of preventing tragedies. But the other is education and prevention,” Sahak explained. 

“[We’re] getting through to the youth at a setting like this to show them what happens when they are involved in a collision, especially when you decide to drink and drive or consume drugs before.”

Students watched the mock crash from behind a long barricade.

Emergency crews swarmed the scene of two previously-crashed vehicles and acted out the aftermath of a wreck that appeared to leave all but one of the fictional passengers unconscious.

As each moment unfolded, school staff ushered the audience closer. 

1130 NewsRadio spoke with three student actors who reflected on their experiences.

Artemis Asaadi, 16, says she felt a slight sting on her neck from a sharp glass when the windows got broken by the first responders. She describes that as the moment when the simulation did not really feel like “pretend” anymore. 

“I almost forgot my own lines and act because of the sudden glass breaking,” said Asaadi.

In that shock, she said she had to remind herself that it wasn’t real and only a simulation. 

Although she does not plan to get on the road as a driver soon, she says she hopes the message resonates with her peers who will.

Maya Pires, 15, says that, despite having prepared for the scene, she was surprised when acting it out.

“It was really exhilarating but in a more exciting way than scary way, because we started hyperventilating when they started simulating it,” said Pires. 

Maya plans to get her licence next year and is excited to be on the road. She says she hopes the mock crash impressed the idea that social media is a common distractor for young drivers.

“The big part is the addiction making people forget basic safety and such, and being so constantly into checking social media, that things around this are forgotten. So putting that into a scenario where a crash happens, where some is on social media, put a big perspective onto how problematic that can be,” added Pires. 

David Vannesland, 16 years old and recently licensed, says that being a new driver is an exhilarating experience, despite seeing bad drivers on the road. 

“I think there’s been lots of influence on social media for distracted, dry driving, and stunt driving. Most of those things, and doom scrolling, can possibly affect driving,” added Vannesland.

Despite knowing the risks, he says he tries not to think too much about the worst-case scenario when driving alone or with friends.

Asher Chapman, a drama teacher at Windsor School, says the actors practised body movement and screaming to get ready for the role.

“We prepped by getting into the headspace — thankfully we didn’t do method acting for this — but it was intense,” he said. 

Chapman acted as a surviving victim at the crash scene, with a painted latex prosthetic bruise on his shoulder. He describes the performance as being intense and visceral from start to finish.

Despite getting the script in advance, much of the rollout was a surprise for him as well. 

“I let out a scream from my soul. There were a lot of moments that were enhanced by the energy of the moment,” Chapman recalled. 

“I have no doubt that this will last with students.”

As the event progressed and the barricade was moved closer to the performers, there was a visible change in the reactions of the crowd.

Hundreds of students watched the scene with increased attention as more glass shattered, sudden screams and sirens rang out, and dramatic interactions between actors and paramedics played out. 

ICBC Road Safety and Community coordinator Louisa Mendonca says the organizers set out to create a psychological shift in the teenage audience. The impact implied by their reactions could mean saving a life.

“It shows everything that is involved in a real crash that most people don’t get to see, so it brings everyone together to really show these kids the impact of the crash, the injuries, going to the hospital, unfortunately, things can be fatal,” said Mendonca. 

She hopes, as students celebrate their high-school milestones, that they think back to the mock crash and say, “I don’t want that happening to me or my friend.” 

It’s not just teenagers, however. She wants everyone who gets behind a wheel to understand the consequences of bad driving behaviours. 

Looking ahead into the May long weekend and upcoming grad season events, Brain Twaites, public health officer with BC Emergency Health Services, cautions drivers of any age to stay safe.

“We do see an increase of motor vehicle incidents on the roadways, especially on long weekends,” said Twaites.