| Blurred goggles give new view to drunken driving dangers |
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| Written by Micaela Titus, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Monday, 12 October 2009 06:49 PM | ||||
  Save A Life Tour alcohol awareness program manager Andrew Tipton, left, looks on as mechanical engineering graduate student Matthew Mlcak navigates his way through a virtual driving course on a drunk driving simulator Monday in Nedderman Hall. (The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson) Each year, at least 1,700 college students die from alcohol-related injuries. The National Save A Life Tour was on campus Monday to educate UTA about those dangers. Andrew Tipton, Save A Life Tour manager, joined a year ago after he was the sole survivor in a drunken driving accident during his sophomore year that changed his life. “We were driving around on my friend’s property just having fun, and we were drinking,” he said. “Then we hit a tree going 70 mph. Both of my friends flew out the windshield, one broke his neck and the other had brain-related injuries.” His seat belt and airbag saved his life, but he suffered severe injuries. When his arm went through the passenger side window he sliced two veins and an artery. “Once I got out the hospital, I had to face reality and go to both my friends’ funerals,” he said. “That’s when I realized it [drunken driving] wasn’t worth it, and just saying it won’t happen to me is not true.” Participants could drive the simulator, put on blurred goggles reflecting alcohol levels above the legal 0.08 limit, attempt to dress a Barbie or steer remote-controlled cars. Donielle Smith, health promotion and substance abuse coordinator, said this event was held so students could gain empowerment, learn how alcohol affects the body and know the consequence of drunken driving. “Drinking affects your kidneys, liver functions and brain,” she said. “When people are intoxicated they lose control of their motor skills, and binge drinking can be deadly.” Excessive alcohol use is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Computer engineering freshman Bradley Anderson said he saw the Save A Life Tour when he was heading to class and was happy he came back to participate. He said the program was interesting and allowed him to see drunken driving from a different perspective. “Most universities say ‘don’t drink on campus’, and that’s the end of it,” he said. “With this event there is a realistic understanding about the importance of not drinking and driving.” Accounting sophomore Jesse Marroquin said he wishes there was more advertising for the event because information about alcohol facts is important and needs to reach more students. “I normally attend a lot of events on campus, and I heard about this event through word of mouth,” he said. “That is your best form of advertising, but most people are unaware of this program. This event brought awareness to something important.” The program was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Nedderman Hall. The event included pamphlets about alcohol awareness. Each participant was entered into a raffle for free food from Whataburger and a movie pass. Views: 558 | E-mail
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:35 PM ) | ||||
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