Students receive lesson on impaired driving

WINTERSVILLE -- Indian Creek High School students got a close look at the dangers of impaired driving during a series of simulations held Thursday.

Those involved in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America teamed up with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for the FCCLA Drunk Busters Goggles Experience. Events held in the school gymnasium focused on helping students to stay alert and safe while driving a motor vehicle.

The FCCLA received a $1,250 Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety Grant. Officials acquired impairment goggles to promote safe driving with the funding. The goggles mimic various levels of intoxication and fatigue in order to give students that realistic experience.

Dozens of students participated in obstacle courses where they attempted to ride a bicycle, walk a straight line and shoot a basketball into a hoop while donning the eyewear. FCCLA adviser Julie Robinson said while the activities entertained the youth in attendance, she hoped it taught them an important lesson.

"They are laughing and I'm happy about that because I want them to remember this experience," she said. "If they are ever in a situation, they'll remember this and know they shouldn't drive."

Some students were surprised by the altered states they experienced with the goggles on, stating they did learn something from this demonstration, including freshman Franco Barcalow, who commented, "This was the most incoherent I've ever been."

"It's ridiculous to try to drive like this," he said. "I could hardly walk while wearing the goggles."

Sophomore Bryson Kamarec, a basketball player for Indian Creek, had trouble making his shots during his attempts at the hoop and missing the mark. "It messes with your brain," he said. "I didn't think it was that bad."

Resource Officer Deputy Matt Morgan worked with Robinson on the obstacle courses to teach the teens the consequences of what using drugs and alcohol will do to you while driving.

"We came up with a few plans and deputies were put on the courses to supervise," Morgan said. "The goggles show impairments such as being drowsy or the blood alcohol content levels of being drunk. We got kids interested in participating. We expected 80 to 100 kids seeing what it's like to be impaired."

Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. was joined by a half-dozen of his deputies to assist the students on the courses, hoping it will encourage the youth to clearly see the impact of driving while intoxicated.

"I think it's a good program," Abdalla said. "It's bringing awareness of the effects that alcohol can have on the brain and how it affects completing tasks. Hopefully, if kids experience peer pressure to have a drink and get behind the wheel, they'll decide not to. We can preach this and hope they can make a decision that will save a life."

Indian Creek's FCCLA has received FACTS grants in the past. They were used to target winter readiness and to provide a driving simulator, the latter of which was in partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The grant is part of a national FCCLA peer education program that strives to save lives through personal, vehicle and road safety.