The Times

Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Entertainment

Students wait their turn to try out the DWI?simulator that the Save a Life tour brought to South, so they can experience driving while under the influence.

The Save A Life Tour made its way to the South campus recently, setting up the DWI simulator to promote general awareness among students of the issues behind drinking and driving.

Students attended the Save a Life Tour, an operation which cost Student Life $4,900.

Jerrel Wade, coordinator of student life for South campus, was thrilled about having the tour on campus.

"It's the most expensive event on our budget, but is worth every dime, and it's better than preaching," said Wade, who made it clear that he wants students to walk away from the event remembering not to drink and drive and be more responsible.

The Save a Life Tour was the campus' first attempt to create awareness for college students on the choice of drinking and driving.

Wade hopes South campus will become an annual pit stop for the tour.

"I would like to bring the tour back in March next time, close to spring break."

The Save a Life Tour is hard to book, even in advance. The Feb. 13 date was originally supposed to be set for sometime in early March, but schedule conflicts prevented a different date.

Wade invited 93.3, Houston's local hip-hop radio station, to cover the event. He saw the on-air event coverage as a way to educate the city and introduce more people to the college with the influence of on-air personalities.

As the event started, students gathered in curiosity around what seemed like a hi-tech video game. They quickly learned that the machine in front of them was not a game, but a drunk driving simulator.

The simulator is a five-panel screen that sits in front of a dashboard connected to a padded chair, much like what would be found in an actual car.

The DWI simulator was created to promote a message of choice by giving first hand feedback of the effects of drinking and driving.

While sitting in the driver seat, participants fully interact with the environment, experiencing everything a drunk driver does.

"The simulator shows the effects of drinking and driving, such as tunnel vision, slowed reaction times and swerving." Darris Williams, Save a Life Tour technical team member, said.

Continued...

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