Travis members experienced the dangers of driving under the influence this week when the Save-A-Life tour visited here.

The tour uses a drunk-driving simulator that allows people to experience first-hand how alcohol impairs their driving skills.

The machine has an instrument panel and three screens, two representing the side-view mirrors. The screens give the driver a 185-degree view.

Like the real world, the simulation has drivers with minds of their own.
Save-A-Life tour members programmed real-world drunk-driving incidents into the machine. To make the experience even more realistic, the device has the capability to change wind and weather conditions. The driver could be driving in rain, snow or darkness.

One of three machines in the world, the simulator has the ability to throw off a driver’s equilibrium just like alcohol. It simulates different levels of intoxication up to a 0.34 blood-alcohol content, said Brian Beldyga, Save-A-Life tour senior manager.

Most drunk drivers tend to swerve as they fight the delayed reactions in their heads, Mr. Beldyga said. Some drivers think if they don’t swerve, they make a good drunk driver. This is not the case, he said.

Drunk drivers usually are one-track minded and experience tunneled vision. This causes them to stop scanning and miss signs, Mr. Beldyga said.

As different Travis members got behind the wheel, spectators were able to watch what the drivers saw on a large screen. They also had a helicopter view of the driver’s vehicle in traffic.

“It was really hard for me to manipulate the car,” said Airman 1st Class Valentin Rojas of the 60th Comptroller Squadron.

Airman Rojas said the simulator was very educational and gave him an idea of the dangers associated with driving under the influence.

“I never realized how much it would affect my vision only concentrating on one thing at a time,” said Senior Airman Jacqueline Johns of the 60th Air Mobility Wing Command Post. Airman Johns crashed into a school bus during her drive in the simulator.

“I was trying to control the car but couldn’t pay attention to the road. My main focus was the steering wheel and I lost track of what was going on around me. I was just trying to drive safe without swerving,” said Airman 1st Class Akshat Kohli of the 60th CPTS. During Airman Kohli's experience, he lost track of his speed and stopped about 20 feet behind a stop sign.

“As soon as there was an increase in delay (in my ability to react), I was going all over the place,” said Staff Sgt. Melissa Larcom of the 9th Air Refueling Squadron.

“A police car ran a stop sign and I ran into it. If I were sober, I could have seen him coming and prevented the accident,” said Staff Sgt Mary Testut of the 60th Dental Squadron.

“I went on curb and did a lot of swerving because my reaction time was off. (The simulator) makes you see it from another perspective and think about it. People should make use of the (Airmen Against Drunk Driving) hotline,” said Senior Airman Beata Maries Alas of the 60th AMW Command Post.