Simulated drunk driving course at Kalkaska High School
Posted: 05.06.2011 at 6:58 PM
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KALKASKA, MI -- This weekend, several local high school girls will be dressed to their best and the guys will be "Dapper Dans" as they head to prom.

Kalkaska High Schoolers will go to their dance Saturday, and Friday, they got a hands-on safety lesson reminder.

If you have ten to twelve beers, you'd have a blood alcohol level of .20.  Danielle Maxwell did some drunken damage.

"Scary, I thought I was going to hit everything," Maxwell laughed.

With the assistance of some goggles that make it seem like you've guzzled too many.

"We just want to make sure this time of year kids are safe," said Kalkaska High School Principal Dale Kasza.

The Kalkaska Village Police, the Kalkaska County Sheriff, and the Michigan State Police put the juniors and seniors who are going to prom tomorrow though a simulated drunk driving course and there was a mass fail rate. 

"With this age group, you have to make it fun," explained Sgt. Glenn Artress of the Kalkaska Village Police Department.

Senior Javin Sbresny says the course is an eye-opener.

“To think people can put this on their conscience and take a chance of taking somebody else's life," said Sbresny.

"It’s really important to understand how dangerous drunk driver is and realize you can't drive while impaired," said Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Abe Devol.

Devol says 40 percent of all deadly accidents involve alcohol.

"I think it's good because then everyone can realize how bad you are when you're sober," said Maxwell.

I threw on the goggles and gave it a go and like the rest, I failed miserably and probably owe the Michigan State Police a new cone, but the point taken away was concise.

"If we could have them take one thing away from here that could prevent a tragedy tomorrow, that'd be great," said Artress.

Don't drink and drive.