Christiansburg students gain perspective through altered view

Christiansburg student Nick Moran attempts to drive the road course while wearing vision-impairing Fatal Vision goggles. Photo by Travis Williams | The Burgs

Students got a first-hand view of impaired driving Tuesday at Christiansburg High School as a part of the Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety’s statewide, “Save Your Tail-Gate, Buckle Up” challenge.

Participants’ views were altered by pairs of Fatal Vision goggles to simulate the effects of alcohol or drugs. Then they attempted to drive a golf cart through a cone line course, set up by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office. Students were also taken through a variety of ball drills and asked to walk a white line, all while having their vision altered.

Nick Moran, a 10th-grade student who ran over no less than six cones during his attempt, said it was a fun experience, but at the same time scary to think of doing in real life.

“I would have been charged with murder and multiple counts,” Moran said.

Master Deputy Christopher Lucas, who runs the driver impaired program throughout the county, said it was his goal to have every student driver in Montgomery County take part in the experience this year.

Also at Tuesday’s event, school resource officer Donnie Cromer gave the students a glance at the power of a car airbag by deploying one outside of a car with a toy doll on top of it. The doll did not survive.

The day’s activities were just one of several safe CHS driving events students have participated in as the result of a joint effort between the school and the Christiansburg Police Department during the three-week campaign. Other events have included a parents night, a blind spot tractor-trailer demonstration courtesy of Walmart and the signing of pledges to wear seat belts.

Cromer said a seat belt survey was conducted at the school at the beginning of the program. The survey found that 88 percent of students wear seat beats on their way to school. A similar survey is planned once the program ends on Oct. 12 with the goal being 100 percent usage.

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