Merritt, OK – On April 15, Beckham County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers Wendi Holland and Richard Jones partnered with the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and Oklahoma Highway Patrol to provide Merritt High School students with a hands-on lesson about the dangers of impaired driving ahead of prom season.

The program was designed to stress the importance of making responsible choices and avoiding driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Students learned how impairment can affect judgment, reaction time, coordination, and overall driving ability.

Master Sgt. Christy Yokly, who works with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, travels throughout Oklahoma speaking with teenagers about traffic safety and impaired driving prevention. During the event, students participated in several interactive exercises, including operating utility vehicles through obstacle courses while wearing goggles designed to simulate impairment.

With assistance from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, students experienced firsthand how difficult simple driving tasks can become while impaired. Organizers said the demonstrations helped students better understand the real-world dangers associated with impaired driving while encouraging them to plan ahead, use designated drivers, and make safe decisions during prom season and beyond.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that one poor decision behind the wheel can have lifelong consequences and encouraged students to look out for both themselves and their friends.

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