St. Johns County

‘Arrive Alive’ tour stops at local high school, shows students dangers of DUI & distracted driving

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A St. Johns County school wants its students to be aware of the consequences if they get behind the wheel under the influence or drive while distracted.

On Tuesday, the “Arrive Alive” tour stopped at St. Augustine High School to show students the real-life dangers without the real-life experience.

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“It was kind of scary... the thing was delayed a little bit so when I was trying to turn left it wouldn’t go to, like, three seconds later and then when I tried to save myself it was too late,” says Skyla Stephens, who is a senior at St. Augustine High School.

This high-tech simulator is one of a kind according to Tage Green, the Arrive Alive tour instructor.

It’s the only simulator that shows what it’s like to drive while high.

“And it’s just a good time to get ahead of the problem before they have to learn the dangers and the consequences the hard way in real life, and they’re able to do it virtually here on the simulation,” says Tage Green.

For the simulator students put on these goggles, and then they have the option of choosing drunken driving, driving while high or driving while texting.

The month of April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the Florida highway patrol, there were more than 56,000 distracted driving crashes last year, and more than 330 of those were deadly.

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“It’s dangerous for anyone whether it be texting and driving or driving under the influence; it’s not just a problem for the kids,” says Green

High school seniors tell me their prom is this weekend and after going through the simulator, they have this message for their fellow classmates.

“Not that I drink, but if... you choose to have a designated driver, so you don’t kill anybody or kill yourself,” said a senior.

Friday is St. Augustine High School’s senior prom and administrators hope that this stimulator will motivate students to make the right decision and arrive alive.