Kids raise drunk driving awareness

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- New Year's Eve is just a couple of days away and that's why one group of students is hitting the pavement tonight to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.

They are not old enough to drink and many too young to even drive but they are out in Meriden walking to stop adults from driving drunk this holiday.

"This is my third year since I started. It is just bringing the message to the adults around the holidays not to drive and drive and to be safe," said Britnay Hall of Meriden.

They call it the white out, walking in white t-shirts with don't drink and drive slogans scrawled across them, but their message goes beyond a catch phrase like think before you drink. They have victims walking with them, people who have been hit by drunk drivers.

"Definitely she could have killed me and then she fled the scene and she had like a gallon of vodka in the car and she had two innocent children in the car also and that really frustrated me," said Nancy Blake.

Along with these students, Police around the state and the different towns will also be running enforcement. The students are trying to keep drunks from driving and police are trying to take them off the road, hopefully before they hurt someone.

"We have a lot of bars in town and a lot of places where people are going to celebrate New Years and unfortunately people aren't making the best decisions when they are leaving the bar at 1 or 2 in the morning," said Officer Irene Leonard.

News 8 rides along with West Hartford Police as they get ready for News Years Eve. Not only will they have check points in place but roving spotters looking for drunks.

"Erratic driving. When people aren't using their signal, when they're kind of swerving within the lanes, they forget to turn their headlights on," said Officer Leonard.