Today, students in Coppell High School forensics science teacher Rebecca Wheatley’s classes participated in a Simulated Impaired Driving Experience (SIDE) which was hosted in partnership with the Coppell Police Department in the parking lot behind Buddy Echols Field.

The effects of driving while intoxicated were mimicked by students driving a swerving go-kart and during an activity in which students attempted to throw and catch tennis balls wearing goggles distorting their vision. The purpose of the goggles was to replicate the effects of cannabis, opioids and alcohol.

“[The students] goal is to get through without hitting anything but very few have done so unless they go slow,” Wheatley said.

The students made two laps around the obstacle course which was designated by cones. Cones along the course represented people, a silhouette of a dog, and mailboxes were placed along the way.

“What we try to do is get them to understand that any type of impairment through intoxication mostly that people are familiar with alcohol or drugs when you are impaired, you do not have normal use of your faculties,” Coppell police officer R.J. Harr said.

This is Wheatley’s first year to partner with SIDE.

During the simulation, the student drivers went through the course, unimpaired but, the second time, the car was moving back and forth in a swerving motion.

“Any impairment, whether taking a prescription medication, alcohol, or drug, will affect your driving,” Harr said. “Ultimately what we’re trying to get at is don’t obviously drink and drive or take a prescription medication that may impair you and get in the car and drive.”

The Coppell Police Department presents this activity several times per year for various CHS classes to educate students about the risks involved with drinking and driving.

“The simulation proved what I had already had been taught, drinking and driving isn’t a good thing, it just put it in a perspective about how bad it can be,” senior Emily Evans said.

SIDE began three years ago and Harr has been part of the program since its start.

“This tells me that drunk driving is a pretty bad thing and people have run over cones, ran over dogs and mailboxes, it’s pretty bad,” senior Doreen Chin said. “I’m probably not going to drink in college because of this.”

https://youtu.be/lEMEYzpEidc