Published: November 06, 2009 06:11 pm      

Learning a life lesson: SADD activities teach students the dangers of driving impaired

Statistics don’t always tell the whole story, but when it comes to Jim Noffsinger’s passion, numbers are the only thing that matter.

“We try to save lives. We have lowered the number of fatalities in Indiana, but there are still too many,” said Noffsinger, state coordinator for Students Against Destructive Decisions or SADD. “If we can save one life, that’s a blessing.”

Noffsinger brought a few of his toys to Providence Junior-Senior High School Friday to help get his message across to students. He brought his Cruisin’ Cooler, remote control cars and bag toss for students to enjoy. But all three activities came with one common element — vision impaired goggles.

The goggles simulate how vision is impaired for those trying to function after consuming twice the legal limit of alcohol. A simple task becomes almost impossible to complete by wearing the “DUI” goggles.

“It was bad,” said freshman Taylor Marshall, who tried to throw a bean bag into a target wearing the goggles. “I threw it and it went out the door. I can’t imagine being drunk and trying to do something.”

That is the message Noffsinger is trying to drive home. And it’s not just alcohol. Noffsinger said texting has passed drinking as the number one cause for driving fatalities among teens.

“Everything is a distraction with teens, it could be texting, talking to a friend, turning up the radio ... anything,” he said.

Senior Nick Primavera said trying not to hit plastic cones while wearing the goggles and driving the Cruisin’ Cooler was “difficult.”

“Once you put them on you can’t control it,” he said. “I was pretty dizzy.”

Providence counselor Jaimie McRae, the school’s SADD coordinator, said she invites Noffsinger and his gadgets twice a year. In the spring, he brings a golf cart, with a radio which kids try to maneuver through an outdoor obstacle course. While driving, they not only wear the DUI goggles, but have a radio blaring and a passenger talking to demonstrate distractions that can cause accidents.

“We feel this is important,” McRae said. “They are having fun but they are also getting a message.”

A message many of the 208 teens who died in motor vehicle crashes didn’t get according to Noffsinger. He said the number of drinking and driving fatalities among teens has almost been cut in half in recent years. However, he said 208 fatalities are still 208 too many.

Noffsinger, who taught for 33 years, visits 60 schools a year. He said there are 280 SADD chapters throughout the state.