‘Did I just hit a family’: Virtual DUI experience comes to local school

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. – Wednesday morning, some students of a local school got an up close view of a potentially scary experience.

The Arrive Alive Tour visited Humboldt High School with a virtual driving simulator.

This experience gives teens a chance to feel the impact of the decision of choosing to drive drunk. 

“We’re trying to fight that overconfidence. A lot of the people that would put themselves in the situation to get behind the wheel if they’re impaired are the ones who are too competent in their ability to do it. All it takes is that one time,” said Jalen Burress, a Route Representative with the Arrive Alive Tour.

“The one thing that I heard was, ‘Oh my gosh. I will never drive drunk. That is scary. Did I just hit a family?’ Or, ‘Did I just run into a house?’ The ‘OMG’ moments for them was what I really heard the most,” said Ericka Hamilton, the School Counselor for Humboldt High School.

Students were able to take turns getting behind the wheel and those waiting could also see the driver’s view point by the TV that was set up. 

And students weren’t the only ones getting in the driver’s seat. Staff also participated in the experience.

“In your head you’re thinking, okay I know this is a virtual reality moment, but when you take off and hit that gas petal and the steering wheel is taking you another direction, and you’re trying to control it. It was something I would never want to participate in,” Hamilton said.

And not participating in drunk driving is a great stance to have as it can lead to a lot of consequences. 

“You could kill yourself, hurt someone else on the road, which is very selfish. You could put someone else’s life completely at risk. You could hurt your own family very deeply. Not to mention all the things it could take away from your career path,” Burress said.

“I just want to tell all of our teenagers in the Class of 2024: Make good choices, and if you find yourself in a situation that you can’t get out of, call someone to come and help you,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton also shared this would be a good experience for community groups like youth groups, boy scouts and girl scouts. 

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