Drunk driving simulation a sobering experience for Parkersburg High School students
Hunter Leavitt, left, attempts to text and drive under the supervision of Driver Education Instructor Sharon Marks, right, during a drunk driving simulation at Parkersburg High School. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Driver Education Instructor Sharon Marks, left, guides Ashlyn Morris, right, through an obstacle course during a drunk driving simulation at Parkersburg High School on Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Hunter Leavitt, left, attempts to text and drive under the supervision of Driver Education Instructor Sharon Marks, right, during a drunk driving simulation at Parkersburg High School. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Driver Education Instructor Sharon Marks, left, guides Ashlyn Morris, right, through an obstacle course during a drunk driving simulation at Parkersburg High School on Thursday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
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PARKERSBURG -- Parkersburg High School held a drunk driving simulation for students Thursday.
The simulation had the students equip drunk goggles that simulate the visual effects of alcohol consumption and then run through different tasks to show the dangers of impaired driving.
Driver Education Instructors Sharon Marks and Charlie Gesell partnered with School Resource Officer Ryan Bargerstock to host the event.
Bargerstock was in charge of conducting a field sobriety test to show how police would test someone they suspect is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The test required the students to put on the drunk goggles, keep their hands at their sides, count how many steps they were taking out loud and walk in a straight line. Bargerstock hopes this opens up students to the dangers of drunk driving while they are still in high school.
"They're going to try to take the test and learn about all the indicators that I'm looking for," said Bargerstock. "It's a good eye opener; it's practical, hands-on. Even just putting the goggles on, how your depth perception, your coordination, you lose it."
The other half of the simulation involved the students driving around a set course on golf carts while wearing the drunk goggles. In the passenger seats of each of the golf carts were Parks and Gesell who instructed students on how to navigate through the course. Additionally, they had the students attempt to text and drive while wearing the goggles.
Parkersburg High School junior Hunter Leavitt drove through the course and found it very helpful.
"I thought it was very fun, and I think it proves a lot to not drive drunk because I could not even drive straight," said Leavitt. "To be honest, I thought I could confidently drive well and I was humbled ... I couldn't control a golf cart, imagine a real car on the road?"
According to the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, there were over 5,000 arrests made in 2021 for driving under the influence (DUI), 123 of which were in Wood County.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com