Authorities Use Special Kart, Goggles to Explain Drunk Driving
The Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office has a new and unique way to teach area youth about the dangers of impaired driving. The office has purchased a Drunk Busters kart, along with drug Drunk Busters goggles. These tools allow users to realize how it feels to drive impaired.
According to Sheriff Mike Koontz, deputies have allowed kids to test the kart and goggles at schools throughout the county, including Hundred and Valley high schools. Deputy Randy Adams conducted training with the kart, and incorporated a class on Alcohol and DUIs. Adams said he, along with Teacher Mr. Mays, asked students to ride the kart through a course with the goggles. Students then attempted to pass a football while wearing the goggles.
Further, Adams conducted field sobriety tests while students wore the googles.
“The teachers an students loved it, Adams said. “This was an awesome investment for the county.”
Furthermore, Deputy Mary Bordenkircher also implemented the same program at Paden City High School, with similar results.
According to drunkbusters.com, Drunk Busters of America was created in 1995 by Curt Kindschuh.
Kindschuh is the designer and patent holder for Drunk Busters Impairment Goggles, which is used worldwide in the fight to stop impaired driving.
Drunk Busters offers goggles in five different simulated alcohol levels, a cannabis (marijuana) goggle, drug simulation goggle, and two sleep deprivation goggles. Drunk Busters’ newest goggles simulate abuse of ecstasy/molly/LSD.
Kindschuh has worked in traffic safety and crime prevention for more than 30 years, as a sheriff’s deputy, D.A.R.E. officer, college instructor, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Director, and a counselor with convicted DUI offenders. He has arrested drunk drivers, investigated fatal crashes, worked with convicted DUI offenders, and served as an advocated for victims of impaired driving crashes.
Drunk Busters’ goggles have been featured on many shows and through many exhibits, including the Police Hall of Fame and Museum (Florida); Anderson Cooper’s show, Anderson; The Rachael Ray show; and Crime Museum (Washington, D.C.).