'Save a Life Tour' brings DUI awareness to McConnell

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
The only acceptable time Airmen can get away with driving while "intoxicated" may be during the Save a Life Tour. It won't bring a long list of heavy repercussions and it might make them reconsider drinking and driving. 

With the help of a high impact drunken driving simulator, both enlisted members and officers under 25 get a sobering look at what happens when people drive intoxicated, Sept. 30, at the base fitness center gymnasium. 

"Airmen start out sober behind the steering wheel," said Bryan Moffat, Save a Life Tour host. "It has everything they can adjust just like in the driver's seat of a real car." 

Every 20 seconds while driving, the user experiences having their impairment increased and reaction time slowed because of alcohol. Not only does the driver see how they can get into a crash, they can be pulled over by law enforcement for speeding, driving too slow, excessive braking, stopping the car before road signs and drifting and swerving across the road; typical signs of driving drunk. 

"The simulation sucks all the focus out of the driver to gain control of the car," said Moffat." "Once people go through the driving, they respect it and realize that driving drunk is a serious problem." 

Though the virtual experience has the trademarks of a video game and drivers can walk away unharmed, a sign next to the simulator, "This is not a game," reminds Airmen the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol can't be erased by hitting the restart button on the console. 

"The biggest effect alcohol has on drivers is diminishing their ability to multi-task at the high rate they are used to everyday," said Senior Airman Sean Luna, 344th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. "This simulator has a big effect on the way I see drinking and driving now. Most people think they are invincible on the road and I think this is a good way to get them to see that not only can you be affected by driving drunk but other people living their normal lives care-free can be affected as well." 

The Save a Life Tour has provided edutainment for more than eight years. Members travel to colleges, high schools, and military installations across the nation to bring the reality of crashes caused by alcohol to America's youth. Big screen televisions show graphic footage of real tragedies and how families and friends cope without their loved ones. The Save a Life Tour also displays an empty casket to show how deadly driving drunk can be. 

"During the Air Force's 101 Critical Days of Summer, the biggest threat to Airmen was traffic mishaps," said Mark Erpelding, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Safety office. "Even through the fall safety campaign, the threat is still present, but one of the leading factors is driving while intoxicated and hopefully through this program, we can bring this awareness to our Airmen."