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BRASHEAR, MO. -- Local students got an eye-opening look at the dangers of drunken driving Monday.
Students at Brashear High School jumped into the driver's seat of a simulator that gave them the experience of getting behind the wheel drunk.
The simulator is part of the nationwide Save A Life Tour.
Students also heard from speakers who shared true life stories of drunken driving.
Guidance Counselor Christy Grissom worked for over a year to bring the Save A Life Tour to Brashear.
“A lot of times we think oh, that can't happen to me or oh, we're small town Missouri and that will never happen, and so if they can see a reality and hear what the speakers have to say and their true life experiences; then I think if we save one child, then it's worth it,” said Grissom.
The program has a price tag of $4,000 dollars. Grissom says the district couldn't afford the price, so she contacted State Farm who paid to bring the simulator to the school.
Grissom said she received a lot of positive feedback from students on the program.
“Anything that lets the kids experience what happens, that’s definitely eye-opening, especially for kids that haven’t driven and don’t know what to expect. They now know what to expect,” said senior Josiah Belzer.
Belzer said he crashed the simulated car during his turn in the machine.
Each student had the chance to drive for 4 minutes in the simulator. The machine made their driving worsen every 20 seconds, as if they were becoming progressively more intoxicated during the drive.
Grissom said she hoped the Save A Life Program would be a good reminder for students as they enter the graduation season.
