Story by Ainsley Hall
HEDGESVILLE — The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (WVABCA) visited the Berkeley County driver’s education range so students could try the DUI Simulator.
Students experienced what it’s like to drive while under the influence of alcohol to better understand the dangers of drunk driving. They also tried on goggles meant to mimic the feeling of being intoxicated.
WVABCA partnered with State Farm and the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety program to create something that educates students about drunk driving. In 2010, the DUI Simulator was completed and traveled to every high school in the state to teach students what could happen.
In the simulator, students take turns sitting in the simulation seat, with special controls that mimic what it would be like to drive under the influence.
“The simulation gives students the opportunity to learn from a hands-on experience without putting them in real danger,” said Daniel Pickens, DUI Simulator program coordinator. “It resonates with them more than just sitting there and watching someone else. They get to experience it themselves.
The DUI Simulator works like a video game, where students drove around and encounter different traffic situations. Those who participated experienced real situations and got to see the effects of different blood alcohol content levels as they drive around the virtual road.
Tom Barnhart, driver’s education instructor, also had each of the students try the special goggles on and attempt to walk in a straight line. In the past, Barnhart would even have them toss a ball around to show them how difficult it is to do normal, everyday things.
“It clues them in on how much it impairs their abilities to do simple tasks,” Barnhart said. “If they can’t do simple things like walk in a straight line or catch a ball, then they shouldn’t expect to be able to drive.”
By impressing on the students the dangers they could face, Barnhart and the other driving instructors hope the students will learn to make smart choices and plan ahead before they choose to drink. If they don’t, they could find themselves in a very dangerous situation. Eric Gates, a local State Farm agent, talked about why the organization believes it’s important for young people to see the dangers for themselves.
“State Farm has a long tradition,” Gates said. “We have a long history of serving people in the community, and we are always trying to find ways to improve driving safety. We’ve seen a lot of terrible things over the years, so anything we can do to reduce the number of accidents in the community is worth it.”