Students speak out against drunken driving

Red ribbons hung from 133 lockers in Carson Middle School's main hallway Thursday.

Each ribbon represented a victim killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents last year in Northern Nevada.

"We're doing this so kids will know about all the tragedies of drinking and driving," said Heather Lambert, 13. "The ribbons are supposed to be a reminder not to drink and drive."

Heather helped organize "Project Red Ribbon" as a member of the school's Fighting Alcohol Through Education club. FATE is a youth organization established in 2000 at Carson Middle School through the Lyon County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The students began the day by tying red ribbons to cars in the middle school parking lot as a reminder to drivers to remain sober behind the wheel, especially during the holiday season.

Club member Jessie Poehlman, 14, said, "I don't think anybody should drink and drive. I want to get the message out to all the kids that it's bad for them."

In addition to battling drunken driving, members of the club also work to discourage their peers from drinking alcohol.

"Alcohol is deadly and unhealthy," said Christy Lin, 13. "There's a lot of reasons why you shouldn't drink -- they outnumber the reasons you should."

Laurel Stadler, Lyon County MADD chapter director and FATE parent adviser, said it is vital for community members to take note of the students' work.

"Unless changes are made, unless prevention prevails, we can expect to continue killing 16,000 Americans each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes," she said.