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CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
April 29, 2004

Students experience high-tech drunk driving Junior Weekend

By Shandra Plourde
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report for March 14, 2003, the United States' leading cause of death for citizens between the ages of 15 and 34 is automobile accidents. It ranks as the fifth overall killer in the nation. More than 40 percent of those accidents are alcohol-related.

For over a year, Chris Geysbeek, from Grand Rapids Mich., has worked with a program called "Save a Life Tour", which strives to prevent as many alcohol-related accidents as possible with its drunk-driving simulator.

"[Our goal is] to educate people on the things that can happen when they drink and drive," Geysbeek said. "On the back of the trailer it says 'Save A Life Tour.' We are trying to save a life. ... All the time, the effort, and everything we've done and put into this, if we save a life or open one eye, then it is well worth our time," Geysbeek explained.

The "Save A Life Tour" visited Norwich on April 15 and attracted substantial attention. More than 125 students drove the simulator, and an estimated 300 to 400 students stopped to watch.

"I thought it was of the outmost importance to have it here prior to Junior Weekend, to show them the importance of not drinking and driving," said Chan Stowell, director of student activities. "I just thought it was important overall and that the timing would be good right before Junior Weekend and have a lot of meaning for our students. It is certainly worthwhile."

"It's something different. It heightens the experience and makes you feel like you are inebriated," explained Mark Basa, a 22-year-old senior psychology major from Waukegan, Ill. "This shows you the dangers of it and exactly how alcohol can effect you while you are driving."

According to Kramer Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of "Save A Life Tour", the simulator is a state-of-the-art, 225-degree, 3-D simulator that uses the same technology incorporated in professional flight simulators.

"A lot of people are hesitant to believe it, because they are not drunk when they drive it," explained Geysbeek. "With the 40 years of research put into it, and everything done to make this realistic as possible, people that do [try] it say 'wow, I didn't realize that's how I was when I drank' or 'I'll never drink and drive.' It's an eye opener."

The simulator is set up to make drivers feel as though they are driving a real car. The seat is adjustable, and the dash looks and functions as though it were truly an automobile.

"At first it was alright, but as the difficulty got up, it was a lot harder to hold onto it and try to maintain composure," said Basa. "The hardest part was staying in a straight line. It's not as easy as it seems, now, after this."

Once the participant is situated in the driver's seat and has their seatbelt on, they turn the ignition and have free roam over their virtual world. The simulator starts at level zero and slowly creeps up to level eleven. These levels represent the level of difficulty; the higher the level, the more inebriated the driver.

Each experience on the simulator is unique to that instance. Simulated road and lighting conditions vary from snow to sun to nighttime driving. Other obstacles exist in this generated world, as well. There are other drivers, buildings, and road signs to watch out for. The computer-generated drivers can be unpredictable and be the source of the participant's final crash.

Geysbeek admits to hearing several comments such as "I've driven drunk before; this is nothing like it" from students around the country, including here at Norwich.

"With some people, it doesn't matter what you tell them, they don't care. Those are the kind of kids that, until they get into an accident or get their license taken away, they won't learn,"

Geysbeek said. "As an educator, you can only open the door. It's up to the person to walk through. We show you what can happen, but if you [don't] take it to heart, that is on your head."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.