Students at Beaconsfield Junior High in St. John’s learned about the consequences of impaired driving during a presentation by MADD Canada on Thursday.

Students filed into the gym for the presentation, which included testimonials from real people who have been devastated by impaired driving. A short film highlighted the importance of the choices people make both as drivers and as passengers.

Dawn Regan, Chief Operating Officer at MADD Canada and producer of the short film, says it is important to get the message out to teenagers early.

She says kids start experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age, and they want kids to know what to do when they are faced with the choice of getting behind the wheel.