Yellowknife (Dec 24/03) - In the wake of two potentially fatal drunk driving accidents involving teens, educators are looking for new ways to convince young drivers that alcohol and cars don't mix.

"The message hasn't been received by everyone," said Michelle Thoms, an organizer of the St. Patrick's high school chapter of Students Against Drinking and Driving.

In October, a 16-year-old boy flipped his car -- packed with six other teenagers -- during a drunken street race at the sandpits.

The car rolled over three times before finally coming to rest.

Witnesses say the driver, who got his license just four months before the crash, had several beers that night.

Earlier in the summer, an intoxicated teenage girl hit another teen on Highway 3, crushing his legs.

"We could have easily had 10 dead teens. It's time to regroup and concentrate on getting the message out to students again," said Thoms.

"Kids need to understand the dangers associated with drinking and driving," said Matthew Harvey, a St. Pat's student and SADD member.

"Some don't understand fully how serious of a problem it is."

SADD, whose members include parents, teachers and students, plan to run several education seminars over the next few months.

But the organization needs help from the government to combat drinking and driving, said Thoms.

"We've managed to get the message out to social drinkers, but it's the hardcore alcoholics -- the repeat offenders -- who pose a problem."

The government needs to establish more drug and alcohol treatment centres to help these habitual offenders, said Thoms.

She would also like to see more police checkstops and more RCMP officers on the street.

"The officers we do have are among the hardest working in the country. But the reality is we need more of them."

Simple message

With the holiday season upon us and the temptation to drink and drive at it's highest, the students at St. Pat's have a simple message for revellers: if you drink, give your keys to someone else or take a cab.

RCMP Insp. Paul Richards said the message has been getting through to most partiers, though there have been some notable exceptions.

"I think people are becoming more aware of how serious an issue this is," he said.

"I know from a personal and professional experience, it's a recipe for tragedy."

Richards said the police will be performing checkstops throughout the city during the holiday season.

"We want everyone to enjoy their holidays," Richards said.

The penalties for driving while impaired range from a $300 fine to five years in prison with anywhere from a three-month to a three-year driving ban.

Impaired driving causing bodily harm is punishable by up to 10 years in jail, while impaired driving causing death nets a maximum of 14 years in prison.