Police Teach Teens Dangers of DUI with Videogame & “Beer Goggles”

Police in Ontario are putting a twist on videogames for teens. They’ve had a car donated by the school through a $1,000 donation from the Ontario Chiefs of Police Substance Abuse Grant Program gutted and tricked out with a driving videogame and projector screen. Then they equip teenagers with “Beer Goggles” that simulate your vision at twice the legal blood-alcohol limit and let them drive a simple traffic course. The first victims were automotive technology students from Adam Scott Collegiate who are working on improving the design and producing more.

According to the local Peterborough Examiner, the experience was eye opening for many of the teens that attempted the simulator.

“Dude, the car is mangled,” shouted a group of automotive class students as they tested out the simulator.

“It’s really, really blurry and so hard to see,” said Grade 11 student Tyler Ralph, 16, as he stumbled out of the car. “It really slows your reaction time.”

“You’ll be at one end of the street and think you’re at the other end,” said Grade 11 student Lucas Nelson, 16.

“You wouldn’t think it’s that bad,” Ralph said. “When you’re drunk you’re not really concentrating, either, so it would be even worse.”

“If anyone actually did this they would never want to get behind the wheel of their car (while drunk),” said city police Sgt. John Ogrodnik after trying the simulator.

Students are eager to add to the project and are already working on the details. They want to replace the projector screen with a television to improve immersion and have the hood pop up when the driver hits another vehicle.

It’s good to see people get creative and use videogames that may have a questionable reputation in a positive, productive way. Videogames are a great medium for reaching and teaching the younger generations. Thanks to GamePolitics for the heads up.