CHULA VISTA, CA – Orange cones and yellow tape took over the Mayan Hall patio Tuesday afternoon as students prepared to zig zag through a simulated drunk driving golf cart obstacle course.
Before students headed off for spring break, Southwestern College Health Services and Campus Police hosted their popular “Under the Influence” event to bring awareness about the dangers of driving drunk and to teach students of its consequences. Campus Police also administered mock DUI checkpoints and field sobriety tests, while Health Services provided information about the negative health effects and consequences of drinking.
Students first drove through the obstacle course with no impairments before putting on the “Drunk Buster” goggles that simulated driving under the influence.
Criminal Justice major Janelle Gerry took the course unimpaired with zero problems, but because she said the goggles were so realistic, she caught a couple cones and yellow tape on the second lap.
“Once you put on the goggles, it really does hit you,” Gerry said. “It makes you think about what if you were driving a car and makes you think of the serious consequences. This event really brings people together to promote not driving under the influence and making sure we all stay staff.”
Zach Jones, emergency operations officer, has helped coordinate the event for the past three semesters. Jones said that “Under the Influence” is a way to give people a hands-on lesson about staying safe and learning about serious dangers of driving under the influence.
“We know spring break is right around the corner. We know that people will go out and we just want to warm them on the pitfalls of drinking and driving,” Jones said. “If I even change one student’s view of drinking and driving, then I’m doing my job.”
