TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- On a dreary day in March, members of Team Tyndall learned what could happen to them while driving distracted or intoxicated.
In an effort to reduce drunk and distracted driving incidents, safety officials from Air Combat Command are bringing the “Arrive Alive Tour” to all of ACC’s bases, starting with Tyndall.
“Out of the 11 motor vehicle fatalities for fiscal year 2015, willful non-compliance was the cause of 55 percent of them,” said Harry Dunn, ACC safety chief of programs. “Willful non-compliance includes individuals purposefully violating traffic rules, alcohol use and excessive speeds greater than 20 mph above posted speed limit. We're hoping the Arrive Alive Tour will help get our Airmen's attention and eliminate fatalities caused by willful non-compliance.”
On March 28 and 29, more than 120 people experienced what it would be like to be behind the wheel of a vehicle and not be in control.
“We travel all over the country during spring and fall visiting colleges, high schools, military bases and community events where we set up a virtual reality driving simulator to simulate texting and driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Patrick Sheehy, Arrive Alive Tour team lead.
The Arrive Alive simulator hooks up to any car by attaching sensors to the break and gas pedals and the steering wheel. The passenger then places a virtual reality headset on, and without actually moving, is immersed in a dangerous world where they take their lives, and the lives of others, into their own hands by choosing to drive while texting or inebriated.
Tyndall’s Safety Office worked directly with the Arrive Alive Tour personnel as well as Airmen from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program to make this event as impactful as possible.
“The worst thing that we can do is do nothing to prevent mishaps,” said Tech. Sgt. Jared Stonecipher, 325th Fighter Wing Safety superintendent. “The easiest way to die in the Air Force isn’t from fighting a terrorist, and it isn’t from getting cancer from smoking. The way we lose the most people is through mishaps. Vehicle mishaps in particular are the number one killer.”
Representatives from ADAPT like SrA Kayla Klasing, 325th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health technician, were set up in a booth next to the simulator providing additional information on the dangers of overt alcohol use. She said events like Arrive Alive go hand in hand with the ADAPT program, so it was natural fit for them to be involved.
“I think it’s really great,” Klasing said. “I have never seen this at any other base, and it’s really cool to bring it out here and show everyone, including younger Airmen that seem to struggle to understand, what driving like this can do to them. I think it has opened up a lot of eyes through the use of this simulator.”
After the simulation is complete, the technician goes over the passengers driving capabilities and everything they did wrong during the trip. Many participants hit pedestrians or crashed multiple times.
“I believe it’s probably highly accurate,” said Airman 1st Class Justin Leigh, 325th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. “I definitely won’t be drinking or texting while driving, and I will be discouraging others from doing so as well.”
If you find yourself in a situation where you have had too much to drink and your back-up plan for getting home fails, do not get behind the wheel. Call Tyndall’s Airmen Against Drunk Driving at (850)-867-0220, and they will anonymously pick you up.