CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Charleston Airmen had the opportunity to experience driving drunk while being sober during the Save A Life Tour and drunk driving simulator presentation on base Nov. 7.
"We show people how alcohol can affect reaction time, motor skills and tunnel vision, and how your brain decides to solve these problems from a sober perspective," said Brian Beldyga, Save A Life Tour senior manager. "If you can't do it sober with our help, then how can you do it in the real world after you've been drinking?"
The presentation included a 12-minute video with graphic scenes to show the reality and severity of drunk driving consequences. Mr. Beldyga also spoke with humor to capture the attention of the 26-and-under crowd, but added some seriousness with a personal story about how he saw his fiancée die from being hit by a drunk driver nine years ago.
"The point of this program is to get them to not drink and drive and for them to not let their friends drive drunk," said Mr. Beldyga, who co-founded the Save A Life Tour nine years ago. "This is not some macho sport that guys think it is. It's real and the simulator helps to bring into perspective what could really happen out there."
After the video and presentation, Airmen were allowed to use a $2.5-million drunk driving simulator. The simulator came complete with different levels that varied with blood alcohol content levels. Drivers sat in front of three screens that came with rear and side view mirrors, turn signals, light controls, and several other things seen in everyday vehicles to make it seem like they were driving a car. The Airmen also faced random traffic, pedestrians and inclement weather on the 50-square-mile virtual landscape while experiencing delayed reactions, swerving, tunnel vision and traffic citations on the different levels.
"It was really hard because I kept swerving," said Airman 1st Class Adrian Bozeman, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "If that's what it's really like to drive drunk, then I'm never going to drive drunk and I won't let my friends drink and drive either. I don't want anyone to get hurt ... they're my wingmen."
The Save A Life Tour has been traveling nationwide for the past nine years. There are three teams who travel throughout the year to colleges and high schools. Mr. Beldyga leads the only team that has been focusing on Department of Defense installations for the past four-and-a-half years.
The Save A Life Tour is a high-impact alcohol awareness program that the base commander says he hopes left an impact on everyone to make the right decisions.
"Have a plan before you go out and think about what you're doing ... and have a wingman," said Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander.