ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The Save-a-Life Tour, which was sponsored by the 316th Wing and 79th Medical Wing, was held here Apr. 9 to 11 in Hangar 3.
"The tour is a high-tech interactive drunk driving simulator and awareness program," said 1st Lt. Robert S. Rabon, 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Management Flight commander.
The tour, which was open to all, consisted of several videos and an interactive demonstration of how drunk driving would feel.
"The equipment, which was developed using the same technology as Air Force flight simulators, gave the sensation of driving impaired without leaving the safety of the console," he said. "While using the simulator, you experienced virtual roads behind the wheel of a Ford Escort, at varying levels of intoxication. The machine uses 56 sensors to detect your movements; it even used your height and weight to determine just how fast you can get "intoxicated."
"The simulator can present any scenario ranging from sober to a .34 blood alcohol level, which is pretty drunk," said Brian Beldyga, Edu-tainment Inc. senior manager.
The tour has stopped at college campuses and military installations around the country.
Ms. Suzanne R. Scheddel, 79th Medical Operations Squadron Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment programs manager, recognized the tour would be a fun way to communicate a very serious message, with the goal of reducing members driving under the influence of alcohol, and fatalities, said the lieutenant.
The simulator was designed by Kramer Entertainment, Incorporated as a way to educate while entertaining.