For many, the sight of red and blue flashing lights can be stressful - especially if you're a teenager.
Monday night provided a chance to ease those tensions through hands on experience.
Teens from the Youth Empowerment Program and the police explorers went through a mock traffic stop drill called 'What Would You Do?'
West Palm Beach Police played out several real world scenarios for the teens during the fake stops.
They were able to later ask about the drill in the classroom.
Teens say the exercise provided perspective.
“You can't really always get mad soon as something happens,” 16 year old Quis Icon says. “You got to learn the reason for them coming and stopping us.”
18-year-old Joshua Clark says the mock drill taught lessons on both sides.
“Officers go to do their job, you know what I'm saying?” he says. “They've got to protect themselves and come back to their families too. But at the same time they have to do it the right way.”
WPB Officer Vincent Morton says any additional training helps.
“It gives us more experience just going hands on and being able to deal with different attitudes and different types of citizens, and how they would normally act on a traffic stop.”
The goal at the end of the day is making sure everyone makes it home.
Only on 5 - Being pulled over can be stressful. 2night, an exercise between police and teens that could help to ease those tensions. @WPTV pic.twitter.com/WiSG5i1eZa
— Jason Hackett (@JHackettWPTV) November 8, 2016
