NORWICH – Norwich High School students took turns Friday driving under the effects of alcohol, not through consumption, but with a specially modified car that simulates drinking and driving.
More than 150 students got behind the wheel the Safety Bug, a yellow, 2003, Volkswagen Bug. The car’s visit was provided by Pennsylvania Stop DUI Program through a $1,500 grant secured by Senator Thomas Libous Office (R-Binghamton) called YES! Safe Choices for Kids.
Norwich School Social Worker Kelly Collosi watched on as students took turns navigating the orange cones of the driving course along side a Stop DUI driving instructor.
“It’s important students understand the effects of drinking and driving. This gives them a hands-on experience they can truly understand by the time they’ve finished the course,” she said.
As she spoke, the occasional sound of crushed road cones scrapping along the pavement could be overheard.
DUI Driving instructor Jordan Geisler compared the setup of the vehicle to that of a Driver’s Education car. “I have complete control. If I need to I can engage the controls and cut off the driver’s at any time,” he said.
Geisler said he also controls another aspect of the vehicle and that’s when it begins adding a delayed response.
“The car has a seventh-tenths of a second delay built into it which is the same average delay for the average person after one drink. The steering, brakes and the controls are basically slowed whenever I engage the device. Just like a real situation, you can’t anticipate how or when the effects of alcohol might effect you and neither can the drivers,” he said.
