AAI, CARE To Simulate Drunk Driving Accidents

The Alcohol Abuse Initiative will give students the opportunity to “experience” the consequences of drinking and driving during a C.A.R.E. National Tour on Tuesday (Feb. 13).

The C.A.R.E. 18-wheeler motion-based simulator will be stationed outside the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum in the flagpole area from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“C.A.R.E. is a fully functional, national touring, high impact alcohol awareness simulator that is designed to heighten the awareness of the dangers of drunk driving,” said Rosanne Keathley, AAI coordinator.

During the event, the simulator will play out various situations, including one where a driver leaves a party intoxicated with friends in tow, gets in a wreck and goes into various levels of consciousness while the EMS rescue arrives as the scene and wakes up at the hospital to realize that one of their closest friends has been killed because of their negligence.

A funeral follows and legal actions are pursued by the victim’s family.

“Each passenger will experience a first-person perspective of participating in a virtual scenario where they will be transported to a party where drinking and other risk behaviors are taking place,” Keathley said, adding that afterward, students are engaged in critical thinking skills to analyze their reaction to the event they experienced.

The simulator can accommodate up to 12 passengers every five to 10 minutes.

“Students and faculty nationwide have provided positive feedback regarding the program and have stated that the simulator impacted their drinking and driving behaviors,” Keathley said. “Sam Houston is one of the first universities to host this category of alcohol simulators.”

In addition, AAI committee members will be available during the program to answer questions relating to alcohol use and abuse.

The C.A.R.E. Tour is part of the Alcohol Abuse Initiative's Six Weeks of Alcohol Awareness Training program.

The event is open to all students, classes and organizations, as well as Huntsville community members and families.

For more information, or for faculty members who wish to send their classes to the event, contact Keathley at 936.294.1171 or hpe_rsk@shsu.edu.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 9, 2007
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