Article submitted by Plainfield School District 202:

You drink and drive. You lose.

The message is so simple. Yet some teens learn it only through tragedy when a friend or loved one dies in a car accident caused by drunk driving.

Plainfield North High School will try to help sixth- through 12th-grade students avoid that heartbreak by hosting “Road to Reality” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the school, 12005 S. 248^th Street, Plainfield.

This free event is open to all District 202 middle and high school students. Refreshments will be available. Due to its graphic nature, the program is not recommended for children under age 10.

“Road to Reality” is an innovative and powerful educational program that illustrates the consequences of drunken driving. Participants will “depart” on their journey at 15-minute intervals starting at 6 p.m.

They will witness six separate scenes illustrating the fallout from drunk driving, including: the party; the outdoor accident; the hospital; regret; a court appearance; and the coroner’s visit.

Several PNHS students and numerous outside resources are working together to make this event as realistic as possible.

Officials from the Will County Coroner, Judge's Association, the Plainfield fire and police departments, and Edward Hospital emergency room doctors and trauma nurses will play key roles to help send the message, said PNHS Catalyst Coordinator Julie Adelmann.

“The goal of ‘Road to Reality’ is to provide parents and students a forum to talk about this important issue and learn avoidance techniques and alternatives to drinking and getting behind the wheel,” Adelmann said.

“Road to Reality” will also feature representatives of the :

• Will County State’s Attorney
• Will County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois State Police
• Todd’s Body Shop
• Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM)
• Will County Health Department
• Illinois Secretary of State’s Office
• AAA of Greater Chicago
• Rosecrance Treatment Center
• FACES4 safe driving organization

“The sad fact is, these tragedies can be avoided, but teens often times don’t believe that they can be hurt,” Adelmann said.

“That’s why this program also involves parents and adults, so that they can learn ways to help educate their children, and so that our students can understand that a few moments of so-called fun could bring them a lifetime of pain and suffering,” she said.