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| A totaled truck (photos by William Hinman) |
A sign attached to the truck told a chilling story of a drunk driver hitting this red pickup, killing the mother of the family, and injuring the father and two children. At the bottom of the sign, printed in all caps and bold typeface, a line reads: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.
That was the main message of the event, hosted by TUPD. The Alcohol Awareness event featured free lemonade, hot dogs, and “cop corn,” as well as vendors such as the San Antonio Police Department, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, The Rape Crisis center, and the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness.
At the SAPD booth, officers encouraged students to try on goggles that simulated a blood alcohol content of .20, nearly three times the legal limit of .08. With the goggles on, students took divided attention tests, such as counting out-loud a specified number of steps while walking in a straight line. These tests demonstrated both the increased difficulty of finishing the tasks while impaired, and the ease with which a police officer can recognize a drunk driver.
Students could also get a virtual reality experience from the vantage point of a distracted driver at the booth of U in the Driver Seat, a non-profit organization that works to reduce drunk driving on college campuses through peer-to-peer awareness.
While many passing students did accept the free food, only a handful lingered to actually talk to the vendors. Sgt. Clint Ratliff, training and special events coordinator for TUPD, wished that more students would stop to learn, but was ultimately not quite concerned.
The goal of these events, Ratliff said, was to “be out here and engage,” and that even if he had just a couple of conversations with students about alcohol safety, the event was worthwhile. “Just do it safely, that’s all we want,” he said, a message that he hoped all students will keep in mind as they head to spring break.
“I get the message: stay safe,” said freshman Dennis Feng, who stopped by on his way to get lunch at the Commons. Feng admitted that he’d initially stopped because of the free food, but said that he appreciated the event beyond just the food.
For some students, the event served as a reminder and that was all they needed. “I don’t see the point in stopping. I feel like drink safe says it all,” said senior Lily Sorrentino.
Students could also get a virtual reality experience from the vantage point of a distracted driver at the booth of U in the Driver Seat, a non-profit organization that works to reduce drunk driving on college campuses through peer-to-peer awareness.
While many passing students did accept the free food, only a handful lingered to actually talk to the vendors. Sgt. Clint Ratliff, training and special events coordinator for TUPD, wished that more students would stop to learn, but was ultimately not quite concerned.
The goal of these events, Ratliff said, was to “be out here and engage,” and that even if he had just a couple of conversations with students about alcohol safety, the event was worthwhile. “Just do it safely, that’s all we want,” he said, a message that he hoped all students will keep in mind as they head to spring break.
“I get the message: stay safe,” said freshman Dennis Feng, who stopped by on his way to get lunch at the Commons. Feng admitted that he’d initially stopped because of the free food, but said that he appreciated the event beyond just the food.
For some students, the event served as a reminder and that was all they needed. “I don’t see the point in stopping. I feel like drink safe says it all,” said senior Lily Sorrentino.
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| Vendors at the Alcohol Awareness event |
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