EC Seniors Learn Reality of Driving Impaired

By Gloria Way

  East Chambers High School seniors participated this past Monday in a program that demonstrated to the seniors the danger of driving impaired. Constable Pct 1 Rodney Kahla organized the event with participation from Texas Department of Public Safety State Troopers. It is simply referred to as the Danger of Driving Impaired.

 DPS Sgt. Dustin Blackburn addressed the class with a very sincere talk about not yielding to peer pressure. “Don’t yield to peer pressure. Yield to pressure to do something good,” said Blackburn. “Be a good friend.”

  The troopers set up an obstacle course in the high school gym and provided two scooters. The goal of the exercise was to have students ride the scooters maneuvering the obstacle course as being “sober”. Afterwards, the students were given goggles to wear that simulate being “impaired” and then ride the scooters to maneuver the obstacle course. The class was able to witness the difference between being sober and being impaired while driving.

  All students who drove with the goggles had a very difficult time staying within the boundaries.

They all slowed down significantly to try staying within the cones. And no one was able to drive within the cones the entire obstacle course. The students were able to experience first hand the dangers of driving impaired.

  When addressing the class Blackburn cited recent examples of lives that were lost needlessly due to the driver being impaired. Unfortunately, many who lost their lives were killed by the other vehicle driver being impaired.

  Hopefully, this presentation will save a student from injury or possibly death.

  Thank you to DPS Troopers Corporal Travis Rocz, Jose Solla, Dana Cathron, Blaine Holden, and Texas Ranger Joseph Dreaden for participating in the program.