Kids Get A Look At Driving Drunk

NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester High School students had a chance to simulate driving drunk during lunch on Friday.

Two North Manchester police officers let students drive a golf cart with Fatal Vision goggles.

The goggles "show you the effects of alcohol without having to have an accident," North Manchester Chief of Police Operations Linda L. Learned said.

The goggles simulate a 1.4-percent blood-alcohol level. The legal limit is 0.8 percent.

The annual event aims to prevent drunk driving at tonight's prom.

Bumping a cone was considered an accident. "If you hit the curb, you're dead," detective Dave Young said, laying out the rules.

"Fun stuff," said Josh Cornett, a sophomore. "I didn't do this last year." He didn't hit any cones.

The first two student drivers lived. The third died.

"They really watch out for you if you do this too well," said assistant principal Randy Self, joking with the students.

The simulation brings up the topic of drunk driving in an interesting way.

"Students' immediate response is laughter," said high-school guidance counselor Jason Hesting. "They will be macho about it and say, 'It wasn't that bad.' But they get the message."

"I'm a pro at this guys," said sophomore Henry Hatfield, getting off the cart. He had survived. "Do I get a prize for doing it perfectly?"

"I think they keep tabs on you," sophomore Kolby Rosemeyer said.

Students are glad to take off the goggles.

"It was weird. My head was spinning," said senior Gina Cloe.

The goggles distorted vision to where walking a straight line was tough. The goggles force tipsiness.

Learned had a simple, response to drinking and driving: "Don't do it."

Alcohol-related arrests are up from last year, according to North Manchester police records.

In 2001, police arrested 40 minors for possession of alcohol. This year they've arrested 41 minors. Last year, four minors were arrested for driving with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.2. Five have been arrested this year.

Police have made 29 arrests for public intoxication, while 38 were arrested last year. This year's 15 driving while intoxicated arrests are halfway to last year's total.

Young tightened the cones, simulating heavier traffic, and more students died. Junior Joey Zapf was the suicide driver, knocking down nearly all the cones.

Manchester High School's prom is at Fort Wayne's Botanical Gardens.

The after-prom party is at Manchester Elementary School.

The party will have "carnival-like" activities - sumo wrestling with the giant suits and bungee-cord games.

The school spent about $3,500 on the event.

The students have fun with the simulation, Self said. But "I think it sticks in their minds."

"Drinking and driving is neither smart nor safe," said Learned.f