Road Safety Visit

The goggles make driving a difficult and scary prospect!

Mrs Fowler invited Road Safety Co-ordinator Elton Crane in to spend time with a Year 12 class to discuss drink driving, decision making and the importance of being responsible. The lesson incorporated a dvd which told the story of four young men in Hawkes Bay who have a car crash which kills two of the occupants and severely disables the other two.

After the dvd, students discussed current NZTA TV advertising and got to experience ‘Fatal Vision Goggles’. The goggles allow students to experience a realistic simulation of impairment, as they walk towards a vehicle, step inside, put on the safety belt and put the key in the ignition. This simple task is intended to demonstrate how even basic skills are severely diminished when impaired.

Mr Crane said “The students enjoy the goggles and have some fun, but I always explain that the goggles only affect vision, whereas alcohol has an effect on all of the senses. Most of the students I deal with in Oamaru understand that driving drunk is totally unacceptable behaviour, so my lessons in high schools work to reinforce these messages and to urge them to plan a safe journey home when they go out”