October 21, 2009

AUGUSTA---According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, every year about 1,700 students die from incidents involving alcohol.

Augusta State is trying to get students to recognize this problem. They gave students a chance to drive a drunk driving obstacle course. Students put on goggles that simulated being drunk and drove along an obstacle course in a golf car.

Christopher Crozier said it was pretty hard.

"It was definitely very different," he said. "I wasn't really sure of my senses and I couldn't really see exactly what I was doing."

Other students, like John Martin, are concerned about getting a DUI.

"I did take out the curb and almost hit a cone when I was out there driving, and I wouldn't want to get a DUI," Martin said. "It would definitely affect my future."

This event was all part of Augusta State's Alcohol Awareness Week. The program is funded through a $9,000 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.