ACTIVITY: Read a Wreck
Why are we doing this activity:
Very few people actually know how much damage can be caused to a vehicle and
the occupants during a car crash. This project attracts the high risk drivers
and gives them a chance to see first hand the consequences of their risk taking.
Explanation of activity:
The project is simply to borrow a wrecked vehicle and display the vehicle. When
the teachers and students (or community) are viewing the vehicle, they can answer
a quiz about the crash (should have questions that will highlight how safe behaviour
or attitude could have changed the end results) and then have the answers available
for the people who have completed the quiz. This project can be very basic or
you can use the Read a Wreck to get people's attention and then add more activities,
discussions or a presentation.
How much preparation time:
This project usually needs about 1 ½ months preparation time. Locating
the last owner to get permission to have their vehicle viewed by the public
or if you are looking for a particular set of criteria for the type of crash
(i.e. want it to be a young male driver, muscle car, involving drinking driving
and the driver travelling at an unsafe speed) is what takes the time.
Who will oversee this project:
Who will make sure everyone does what they say they will and oversee this particular
activity:
Project Coordinator:
When are we having this activity:
Date:
Start Time:
Finish Time:
Where are we going to have this activity:
The location of the vehicle needs some consideration. Have it in a prominent
location for everyone to see easily or so the community around your school can
see it. If you want to have the vehicle on display longer than one day, you
may need to store it in a secure location overnight.
If you are having a speaker or assembly to compliment the Read a Wreck then book the assembly hall or gym.
Who:
By When:
What do we need to organize this project:
PRINCIPAL Support: Met with the principal and discuss why you want to
do this and how we plan to accomplish it. Be really clear on how you want to
do this before you meet. The more you understand it and can explain it, the
more chance you have of getting support from the principal.
Who will meet with the principal to present the plan and ask for permission?
Who:
By When:
The first part of this project is to decide what you really want to emphasize in Traffic Safety (unsafe speed, seatbelts can save lives, drinking driving consequences) what type of driver, what type of vehicle crash you will try to find.
You can get the wrecked vehicle usually from the salvage yard. Contact them directly and let them know what you are trying to do.
Who:
By When:
You will need to get permission (in writing) from the previous owner to use this vehicle for a display. (see attached release form)
Who:
By When:
You will need to find out the details of the crash to develop your quiz on what happened. Contact your local police or ICBC Youth Program Coordinator and they can help you find out, speed vehicle was travelling, were seatbelts in use and were they being used correctly, was alcohol involved.
Who:
By When:
Develop a questionnaire or quiz to use with the details of the crash. How you word the questions can help draw out important information for people to ponder about their own driving and behaviour. You might be able to involve the English teacher in helping to get the wording of the questions done.
Who:
By When:
Arrange for the vehicle to be safely stored overnight if using longer than one day.
Who:
By When:
TEACHERS Support: let your school's teachers know in advance that you will be doing this project. They don't like surprises and they might design that day's class material around crashes (i.e. science teacher doing lesson on velocity, math teacher on calculating speeds, law class on penalties). The principal will need to arrange for you to meet with the teachers or send out a notice with the details.
They will need to know:
- what will be achieved by this project (check the WHY section)
- their classroom time will not be interfered (unless you are planning a speaker to enhance the display)
Who will do the presentation to the principals and teachers (if appropriate)?
Who:
By When:
MC - if you are having an assembly who would be the most appropriate person to MC.
Who:
By When:
COMMUNITY Support: this project takes a lot of outside community support that needs to be arranged very far in advance of the actual project date. Some of these groups are:
Local merchants: if you are doing a draw for the quiz entries contact local merchants to donate the prize.
Who:
By When:
Police: contact your local police or School Liaison Officer so they know a vehicle will be displayed. (they will probably get inquiries about the display from the community.) You might be able to involve the police in the display, if it was a drinking driving crash they could bring the hand held breathalyzer to demonstrate.
Who:
By When:
Fire Department: can be an addition to the wreck if you want to combine a demonstration of the jaws of life or the rescue equipment.