Taking it to the limit

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Post-Gazette
The traffic cones fly as a Chartiers Valley High School student suddenly becomes impaired when the instructor in the passenger seat in the State Police DUI Safety Bug throws the switch. Students experienced a "sober" lap, then on the second lap, they suddenly became impaired on the closed course in the school parking lot. With the flip of a switch, the car's steering and braking responds as if the driver were impaired.

Chartiers Valley High School juniors and seniors had the opportunity to drive or ride in a specially equipped car that allowed them to experience the sensation of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The car was set up on a closed course in the auditorium parking lot.

The Chartiers Valley chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions sponsored the visit Monday from the Pennsylvania DUI Safety Bug to raise awareness of the dangers of driving while intoxicated. The Pennsylvania Driving Under The Influence Association provides a way for teen drivers to experience the perils of impaired driving without being put at risk.

With prom and graduation celebrations approaching, student council wanted to emphasize the danger of driving under the influence -- the cause of many serious injuries and deaths of teen drivers.

First published on May 8, 2008 at 8:23 am