Goggles show teens what it is like to drive drunk

Teenagers have heard scores of tales about the dangers of driving drunk. Now they may be able to see the effects of alcohol on their driving abilities -- but in a safe way.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services says that 26.4 percent of underage persons (ages 12 to 20) use alcohol and 17.4 percent engage in binge drinking. Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among today's teenagers. Nearly three quarters of students have consumed alcohol, and more than just a stolen sip here and there. MADD Canada states that more than one thousand fatalities occur annually due to impairment from drugs or alcohol each year. Many accidents occur behind the wheel of a car.

Although statistics on paper and even the sight of a banged-up vehicle can be a wake-up call for some teens, the reality is many are still drinking and getting behind the wheel. A relatively modern invention may help to change all that.

Impairment goggles give drivers a first-hand view of what it's like to drive under the influence. The goggles vary, but many simulate a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of approximately .08 to .15. In both the U.S. and Canada, a BAC of .08 or higher is considered above the legal limit. Drivers donning the goggles are given the idea of what it's like to be intoxicated -- sometimes twice the legal limit.

Teens at Waianae High School in Hawaii were able to put on the goggles and attempt to drive through a practice course in a parking lot. Many found they were unable to maneuver through the cones, hitting many of them in the process. Although it may seem like a laughing matter, several students were sobered by the thought that those cones could've been people injured or killed by an impaired driver. Other schools across the country are using goggles as part of driver education training.

A leading manufacturer of impairment goggles is Drunk Busters of America, LLC. The company says their goggles simulate reduced alertness and decreased reaction time, mirroring the symptoms one experiences while intoxicated. Wearers also experience problems with depth perception and coordination. The company was started by Curt Kindschuh, a former law enforcement employee who began the Wisconsin-based company to help schools, law enforcement agencies and traffic safety organizations stop people from driving impaired.

Driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or even distracted driving, including looking at a cell phone, claims the lives of thousands across North America. Impairment goggles are a tool that can be used to help educate teenagers of the very real dangers of getting behind the wheel while drunk.