AWARENESS TEENS BRING DRIVING SIMULATOR TO
ULSTER COUNTY

Weekend
May 31 - June 1, 2008
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High school students get taste of drunk driving



KINGSTON - Ulster County students were given a chance Friday afternoon to see just what it would feel like getting behind the wheel after indulging in a few drinks at an after-prom party this weekend or a bonfire over the summer. The advocacy group AWARENESS, short for Adolescents Working Assisting Resolving Empowering Nurturing Each Student Substantially, hosted an event at the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center in Kingston that offered students a ride in a unique vehicle, one equipped with a computer-controlled driving system able to simulate different environments and number of drinks. The driving simulator replicated both rural and urban driving scenarios.  First, students drove while sober; then drinks were added to the environment, which caused tunnel vision, and reduced reaction times, just as it would in real life. High school students said the experience was “an awakening,” and said they will think twice once she gets her driver’s license and takes a chance in having a drink sometime. “It definitely affects your judgment by reaction time,” she said after taking the test.  “You don’t think you’re vision is that bad, but it really is.” Sheriff Paul VanBlarcum, who co-sponsored the event, wanted students to understand the implications of drunk driving.  “I think it is as realistic as you can get.  For students to see what it’s like without actually being out on the road and having it happen to them for real, I think is a good educational tool.” The driving simulator is the brainchild of Virginia resident Konstantin Sizov, owner of Drive Square, Inc.  He said the $21,000 simulator technology has been purchased by numerous law enforcement agencies around the nation, but was made available for this education event at no charge.

SUBSTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM