As part of their Prom Safety Initiative, the Peekskill Community Policing unit collaborated with the Peekskill High School Health classes to show high school students first-hand the consequences of distracted driving and driving under the influence. Police Officers Pam Sgroi and Leo Dylewski set up two stations to show the effects of alcohol on coordination and driving and another to allow kids to experience drunkenness using special "Fatal Vision Goggles."

The officers had the students attempt to walk a straight line and catch a rubber ball. The highlight was for students to "drive" an electric cart through a park course while wearing the goggles.

Students were surprised at how much their coordination and balance were off during the activities. Police say the new Distracted Driver activity opened students' eyes to how easy it is to be distracted by cell phones while driving.

With prom season nearly upon us, Westchester County has kicked off its annual safe prom initiative, an educational and law enforcement program designed to deter teen drinking and keep party-goers safe.

The County's Office of Drug Prevention and Stop-DWI Office has already been focusing on educating parents, high schools, caterers and limousine companies about the law and the county's zero-tolerance policy on underage drinking. In the next few weeks,local police departments will kick off their enforcement detail in which limousines are physically checked at random to ensure underage kids are not drinking.

Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth says the program has been successful, "Each year less and less alcohol is being confiscated from young adults heading to their proms. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure that all of Westchester County's high school proms remain alcohol-free."

This year's effort is being managed by the Department of Public Safety as well as the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The Department of Community Mental Health also plays a role by participating in school forums around the County for teens and their parents.

The effort is financed in part by fines generated from DWI convictions.