Simulator Gives Students Drunk Driving Experience

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Photo by Susan Harmon

Drunk Driving - First-year student Cedric Hill (left) watches as Nick Miller (right) drives on the simulator. The simulator changes intoxication effects as the driver reaches higher level on the program.

  The Student Activities Board along with Laura Hughes, director of Counseling, Testing and Career Services, held Save a Life Tour’s “I’ll Take the Keys,” which showcased a drunk-driving simulator in the John F. Gibson University Center Green Room Oct. 7.

   The simulator, presented by Kramer Edu-tainment, featured five screens, which allowed the driver to experience a 180 degree view while sitting in the driver’s seat.

   Andrew Tipton, manager of Save a Life, said the simulator changes intoxication effects as the driver reaches higher levels on the program. He said driving becomes more difficult because of the simulator’s reaction time delay. The simulator features 11 levels.

   “When driving becomes harder for the driver, they start getting tunnel vision, which is the number one killer,” Tipton said.

   Two of the five screens, equipped with side-view mirrors, allowed the driver to see behind them along with another screen showing a rear-view mirror. Other features included fully functional car controls such as a steering wheel, gear shift, turning signals, gas pedal, brake pedal and a key to start the ignition. Drivers completed their turn when they committed a driving infraction in front of a police officer.

   “I would wish I hadn’t crashed so soon,” said Yvonne Hinshaw, Student Activities Board chairperson.

   After drivers finished their experience on the simulator, Tipton handed out tickets and armbands. The ticket showed whether or not the driver passed, received a DUI or committed a fatal collision.

   The back of the ticket listed DUI facts, which included:

•      Two-thirds of states allow officers to take the license of drivers who fail or refuse to a breath test.
•      Blood Alcohol Concentration in many states has been reduced from .10 to .08 percent.
•      An actual criminal record conviction remains a part of a person’s record for life.
•      Average cost of a DUI ticket range from $8 - $10,000, or more if injury or death is involved.
•      It is considered a drug charge because alcohol is a drug.
•      Could mean the loss of your current or future job.
•      May prevent you from getting a loan.
•      Insurance rates may double or even drop you as a client.
•      It is estimated that one person is killed every 32 minutes in an impaired driving cras
•      One person is injured every 26 seconds.
•      Direct costs of alcohol related crashes are estimated to be $46 million yearly.

 
   Cheryl Conley, a sophomore from Eudora, said she appreciated the experience. Conley said seeing the casket put things in perspective for her.

Photo by Candi Marshall

A Visual Reference- Sophomore Trey Barnes looks at the casket on display at the "Save a Life" Tour. Barnes lost his best friend to a drunk driver.

   For several students, the issue of drinking and driving hit a personal chord.

   Trey Barnes, a sophomore athlete, lost his best friend to a drunk driver.

   “People’s lives are affected. I always get the keys from my friends or teammates if the are drunk, said Barnes.

   Britleigh Smith, a sophomore from Warren, knew someone who was killed by a drunk driver.

   Drunk driving even affected  Tipton in the past; Tipton was involved in a drinking and driving accident while in high school. The accident killed two of his friends. He said the accident caused him to get involved.

   Although many students gave positive feedback, one student felt different. Oscar Robinson, a junior from Detroit Mich., felt like the simulator cheated and dramatized the turns. Robinson said he felt the issue was a serious matter, but wished it could have been more realistic.

   First-year student Josh Crouse, ran into a building while driving.

   The simulator actually makes you feel dizzy and weak at the stomach.” said Crouse.  “I received the e-mail and thought it would be fun and a learning experience.”

   Intense videos displayed real-life stories and showed photos of people who were killed at the hand of drunk drivers.

   Newson said the program remains based on a video game type program. He said the program previously allowed cops to actually chase the driver, but he decided to turn the feature off due to participants messing up on purpose.

  “I thought it was fun! I won!” Katie Cockman, a first-year student, said.

   According to Newson, the program alerts people about tunnel vision. He said most people think swerving is the cause of accidents, but tunnel vision has a more significant impact. Tunnel vision blocks out all other visions, causing drivers to miss cars, traffic lights stop signs and more.

   According to the Save a Life Tour Web site, the multi-million dollar drinking and driving simulator remains the only simulators in the nation that give participants a completely realistic, sober perspective on the effects of driving while intoxicated.

   Tipton said three simulators travel around the United States, mainly to high school and colleges. Another simulator exists for military defense training. Before arriving at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Tipton said he and Newson visited the Air Force base in Little Rock.

   In addition to the simulator, two large screens allowed onlookers to view the driver’s progress. Two other screens featured the personal stories from the families of victims killed by drunk drivers and a casket also sat as a reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.

   Tipton said the top three consequences of receiving a DUI included suspension of one’s driver’s license, imprisonment and fines.

   To view the effects of driving under the influence, please click here.

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