Saftey First
Jasmin Charles got into the golf cart. She glanced around the area outside the Taggart Student Center. As she drove away, the golf cart appeared to weave a bit, and it side-swiped a nearby orange traffic cone. Fortunately for Charles, a member of the Utah State University Police Department was nearby. Actually, Officer Ryan Blau was in the golf cart with Charles, who was wearing special goggles designed to simulate the effect of drunkenness.
The Student Wellness Center, in conjunction with the USUPD, used the goggles and golf carts to demonstrate the dangers of drunk driving to USU students gearing up for Spring Break next week.
“If you’re going to drink, the best thing to do, honestly, is to find somebody sober to drive you home, or walk, or just stay where you are,” Blau said.
He also mentioned that the penalty for a first-time driving under the influence offense is a $1,000 fine, vehicle impoundment, loss of driver’s license and probably a couple of nights in jail.
Charles is a resident assistant at USU who was one of a handful of “responsible people” chosen by the USUPD to drive the short golf-cart course while wearing the special goggles.
All students were invited by Blau to put on the goggles and attempt to pass field sobriety tests, like walking a straight line. The goggles came in two strengths – one simulating a blood-alcohol level of .08 (the legal limit in Utah) and the other a .17 level.
Charles said as an RA she had been stressing the importance of alcohol awareness all year.
“We really stress at the beginning of the year that you’re not allowed to drink or to be drunk on campus,” she said. “But if you have to come back here, the number one thing is – don’t drive drunk. I don’t have a problem with people partying – just make sure someone’s taking one for the team and being the designated driver.”
In addition to the drunk driving demonstration, the SWC handed out and encouraged students to sign “Safe Spring Break Pledge Cards.” The cards included safety tips like, “always wear your seat belt” and “stay out of dangerous situations involving alcohol, whether in a car, a bar or a bedroom.”
Stacey Stevens, a junior Art major, said she was planning to go to the Big West Conference basketball tournament in California, and she signed the card as a reminder to herself.
“I wanted to pledge I wouldn’t drink and drive,” she said. “I just want to have good, clean fun and help everyone else do the same.”
Natalie Gildea, a sophomore broadcast major who also signed a pledge card, agreed with Stevens.
“It’s good for a person like me to be reminded that you don’t have to be ‘drunk’ to be impaired – impairment starts with the first drink,” Gildea said.
The Spring Break safety campaign was part of a national effort by the Bacchus and Gamma organizations and was headed at USU by Jaclyn Gardner, a public health intern at the SWC.
For more information or safe Spring Break tips, contact the Student Wellness Center at 797-1010.