ALBANY, GA (WALB) -
Experts say distracted driving can be more dangerous than drunk driving.
Students at Georgia Southwestern State University learned that lesson Thursday.
The Arrive Alive program uses a high-tech simulator to show students the dangers of drinking and driving and texting while driving.
The really cool thing about this simulator, Ben, is the fact that these students got the chance to see the consequences of drunk driving or distracted driving without the real life dangers.
Students got in this virtual car and learned some hard lessons the easy way.
"I got a DUI citation," said Chris Hawkins, Student
Don't worry, this is just a fake DUI. But it shows the list of traffic laws Chris Hawkins violated while virtually drinking and driving.
"It is definitely not a wise choice, I wrecked pretty much so it was bad," said Hawkins.
The simulator allows students to experience, in a controlled environment, the potential consequences of drunk and distracted driving.
"We simulate most males having 5 drinks an hour and that puts them at the legal limit, a little bit above the legal limit to drive, and then the car has sensors hooked up to it, and it acts like your brain would act if you had alcohol , a little bit slow, delayed," said Chaz Burke, UNITE International Instructor.
One of the most commonly recognized driving distractions is cell phone use. Students also got the chance to experience what it was like to text and drive.
"It is very distracting, it is more distracting than drinking and you don't really realize it, it is just a quick text," said Michelle Underwood, Financial Aid Counselor.
Experts say texting and driving is often more dangerous than drinking and driving.
"I think seeing the experience where you hit a building, makes it more real, that could be real and you don't get a second chance," said Underwood.
And that real life feeling will hopefully keep these kids from experiencing it in real life.
The faculty hopes this experience serves as a warning to students about the dangers of driving under the influence and distracted driving.
The National Safety Council estimates there are about 636,000 crashes each year linked to cell phone use while driving.
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