On May 9 and 10, Deputy Ted Mostoller brought in goggles that simulated being under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.

During each lunch shift, students had the opportunity to put on the goggles and try to complete tests such as standing on one leg while counting “one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand…” and so on.  These are some of the standard tests a police officer would use to determine if a person is under the influence.

With prom the next day, Deputy Mostoller wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the effects and consequences of driving while impaired. “Nationwide, during prom season, we have a lot of drinking and driving with under aged students, so we wanted to raise awareness,” he said.

Gabby Llewellyn put on the goggles and immediately felt disoriented. “I couldn’t really see anything with the goggles on. [Deputy Mostoller] was trying to show me what to do, but I couldn’t even see what he was trying to get me to do. It was a really strange and confusing experience,” said Llewellyn.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  “Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year.” Even though most would believe that consuming alcohol is not a pressing issue among high schoolers and under aged youth, it has been found that 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States was by people aged twelve to twenty years old.

In 2014, 8.7% of youth ages sixteen to twenty reported having driven a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and 6% of youth surveyed admitted to driving under the influence more than once in Frederick County.

If you drive while impaired, you are putting not only your life, but the lives of everyone around you in danger. Impairment affects reaction time, judgement, depth perception, and much more. It is important to be safe on the roads so everyone can make it home safely.