TxDOT and DPS Educate High School Students on DWI

Yesterday morning, officials with the Texas Department of Transportation and DPS Trooper Justin Baker, safety education and public information officer, joined together to give a vision goggle presentation in the Christoval High School parking lot. This presentation educates students on the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Baker said, “The purpose is to educate the students on the dangers and consequences of driving while intoxicated. By using the vision goggles we can demonstrate to the students how drinking can affect their normal motor skills while maintaining a sober mind. “   

A driving course was also set up in the parking lot for students to attempt driving in a golf cart. The goal: to drive the course without hitting the displayed traffic cones. The exercise showed how their reaction time and vision would be stunted while wearing the goggles.

“With the vision goggles on, we had a driver and passenger in a golf cart driving a course laid out with traffic cones," explained Baker. "The goal was to not hit the cones, but of course that was very difficult to accomplish."

Baker went on to say, “The students enjoyed this demonstration; those [who] were very confident going into it quickly realized how difficult it was to complete a simple task while impaired.”

Along with the driving course, Baker also provided information on all the consequences that could result from a DWI arrest. These include jail time, losing your driver’s license and job, court fees, and possible injury or death just to name a few.