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Mothers
Against Drunk Driving |
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Public Awareness - FATALVisionTMPublic Awareness Booths are one of the most noticeable methods used by MADD to educate the public about the dangers of drinking and driving. Volunteers give freely of their time to staff these booths for two hour shifts as events occur throughout Orange County. They hand out literature, answer questions from the public and do demonstrations with a wonderful tool called FATALVision goggles. These goggles simulate visual impairment at a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .15% - .20%. That's more than twice the legal limit of .08%! Yet this is the average BAC of someone who is arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence). FATALVision goggles help to demonstrate what it is like to be visually impaired by alcohol or other drugs. This is a vital learning experience for teenagers and small children because 30% of the deaths of young people age 25 and under are due to car crashes; half of those crashes are alcohol-related. These individuals are often the passenger of an impaired driver. Using these goggles as a demonstration helps people realize how life-threatening it is to get into a car with someone who has been drinking alcohol. The goggles greatly alter a person's depth perception and balance. The impairment is so dramatic that it is not uncommon to hear individuals say, I was about to fall down ... I'm never going to drink and drive! With the instantaneous effects that we feel with the goggles, it is not difficult to perceive how dangerous it is to try to operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol. MADD Orange County is always in need of volunteers who are willing to help get the word out through this type of event. If you would like to help staff these Public Awareness Booth Events, please contact our office at (714) 838-6199. Your help could save lives!
This page is: http://www.maddorangecounty.org/fatalvision.htm Page updated: August 13, 2005 |
