Students experience first-hand how drinking and driving kills at Save A Life Tour

Pinckey freshman Robyn Miller knows very well the dangers of drinking and driving.

“My sister’s friend was killed in a drunk driving accident,” Miller said. “He was the passenger in the car and him and the driver were both drunk. He was killed instantly in the crash.”

Students learned first-hand Wednesday how alcohol could turn a vehicle into a killing machine without drinking a drop.

The Save a Life Tour made its stop Wednesday at Central Michigan University.

Students lined up in Finch Fieldhouse and surrounded the drunk driving simulator to watch those behind the wheel attempt to drive intoxicated.

Most students “died” in simulated crashes and were hit by the reality of how serious drinking and driving is.

Miller has been to many anti-drinking and driving events but said this was the first she had attended with a drunk driving simulator.

“I was in a fatal crash today,” Miller said. “I hit a bus. I think it was five or six on the alcohol level.”

Michelle Veith, assistant director of Residence Life, said students can take away some good knowledge from this event.

“We have tables set up from many different organizations,” Veith said. “CMU Police are here. Isabella County Sheriff, state police and others have tables so students can get information about alcohol awareness.”

A casket stood next to a one of two video screens playing graphic images and telling stories of those impacted by drunk driving.

“The videos playing are difficult to watch,” Veith said. “The images do impact you.”

Lapeer sophomore Alex Wolfe hit a UPS truck and “died.”

“It was crazy. The reaction time got harder as it progressed,” Wolfe said. “This is an eye-opener for those who think they can drink and drive.”

Grandville senior Mike Mueller said the simulator definitely gets in your head and thought it was a cool experience.

“I am still a little shaky about the driving,” Mueller said. “It seemed pretty easy in the beginning but that all changed as the levels increased.”

Chris Geysbeek, the Save a Life Tour manager, said the most common response from those driving is, “Wow it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.”

“Theoretically, the car is drunk in the simulation,” Geysbeek said. “Basically, we reverse the roll so the driver can remain sober and see the effects alcohol has on the response time of the driver.”

CMU Community Officer Jeffrey Ballard said the event was a wonderful idea for a start to the Sober in October campaign.

“This event promotes a topic people need to be aware of,” Ballard said. “It has been a consistent flow of people today and not overcrowded.”