People often say experience is the best teacher, and Thursday morning students at Golden Valley High School got to experience first hand the dangers of driving while impaired and texting while driving.

The city of Santa Clarita, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and Golden Valley High School officials joined in partnership to conduct the “Every 15 Minutes” program at Golden Valley High School.

This emotionally charged program is an event designed to dramatically instill teenagers with the consequences associated with drinking alcohol, reckless driving and life choices. The program challenges students to think about personal safety and the responsibility of making mature decisions. The main goal of this is to educate all individuals regarding the severe dangers awaiting those who make these choices.

“For the first time participants and observers who experienced every 15 minutes, it’s humbling, it’s numbing and it is very emotional,” said Golden Valley High School Principal Sal Frias. “Our hope is that (it) does work, and I’d like to believe that it is improving student’s decision making as a whole.”

Several students were taken from classes on Thursday, as if they had been “lost” in a tragic incident. They will be joined by other student program participants at a driving under the influence simulated collision scene depicting fatalities and serious injuries to several students.

Several other “injured” students were treated at the scene by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and taken to a local hospital. The drunk driver was arrested and will be taken to the Santa Clarita Superior Court where a simulated conviction for manslaughter will occur.

An assembly will be held at Golden Valley High School on November 9 for the entire student body where several guest speakers who had family members killed in crashes in the Santa Clarita Valley in past years, will convey their strong and emotional messages. All involved hope to send a poignant reminder about the dangers associated with poor life choices. All family and community members are encouraged to get involved and frequently talk to their youths about the topics.