The University Police Department and the Wilson Counseling Center conducted a drunk driving simulation on the Heritage Plaza lawn in an effort to deter students from driving while intoxicated.

The Wilson Counseling Center helped put on the event to help encourage students to make better decisions with spring break around the corner.  

“We often partner with UPD just to raise awareness on alcohol, and especially with spring break coming up,”  said Carnesha Ben, a counselor with the Wilson Counseling Center. “We like to give students that educational interactive activity just so they have a better understanding of the importance of making sure they are playing it safe.”

Students were directed to don goggles that simulated how an intoxicated person would see the world. They then got to drive UPD golf carts around an obstacle course that simulated the hazards of drunk driving.  

“It was fun,” said Jzena Lee, a junior psychology major from McKinney, Texas. “I just didn’t know what it looked like when you were drunk for real.”

Students were given a presentation on the effects of alcohol on the body and were shown how different amounts of alcohol would influence their blood alcohol content. Sex, body mass and metabolism were taken into account to determine how much alcohol it would take for a given student to reach the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol content.

Lieutenant Daniel Bradway said the course was designed to make students think twice before making an irresponsible decision.

“We hope it will deter somebody,” Bradway said. “We hope it makes them think a little bit more if they do drink.”

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