Who you gonna call? Drunk Busters!

Robbinsville – On a picture-perfect day, local high school students learned what can happen when you make an imperfect choice.

An idea sparked by Lt. James Hyde of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office came to life in the parking lot adjacent to the Robbinsville High School track on April 5, when a group of juniors and seniors in Lucas Ford’s physical education class spent over an hour learning all about the dangers of driving under the influence.

Seeing that the next seven weeks will be filled with plenty of reasons to celebrate – prom, baccalaureate and graduation are each still on the schedule – Hyde tracked down a company that manufacturers goggles to mimic intoxication. Called “Drunk Busters,” the goggles imitate the effects of alcohol, such as reduced alertness, delayed reaction time, confusion, visual distortion, alteration of depth and distance perception, reduction of peripheral vision, poor judgment and decision making, double vision and lack of muscular coordination.

The lieutenant then reached out to STAND T.A.L.L., a nonprofit organization that works with law-enforcement agencies throughout western North Carolina.

The Hendersonville-based coalition needed little time to green-light the simulation.

“The members of our board immediately approved this project in the hopes of educating these young people of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, and possibly saving some young person’s life as a result,” said STAND T.A.L.L. President Ron Kauffman, who was on hand at Robbinsville High to see how the April 5 demonstration played out.

Centered between a field-sobriety test station and a pair of ever-popular cornhole boards – both of which included the implementation of the goggles – was a course for participants to drive through on a golf cart. Under the guise of being pedestrians, cones lined the tight path. Each participant was able to weave through the obstacles without impairment, then were tasked with donning the goggles – set at 0.08, just over the legal limit – and repeat the feat.

Only one student made it through without toppling a cone: senior Willie Riddle. Classmate Tysen Greene noted how “hard” the quest was after hitting five of the cones, which only increased the awareness of how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel after drinking.

“We’re very grateful to Ron and his team for stepping up and purchasing this specialized program equipment for us,” Hyde said. “Our youth are among our most valuable community treasures. Showing them firsthand what just one drink might do to impair them, especially with prom night just a few weeks away, may provide a lesson that they will carry with them for years to come – ‘Don’t Drink and Drive.’

“We simply couldn’t have made this happen without the help of STAND T.A.L.L.”

“This was our first foray into this type of program,” Kauffman added. “We would like to have Graham County residents and other area communities donate to help us fund similar programs in virtually every high school in western North Carolina.

“Our goal, with the help and generosity of our donors, is to continue to make a positive difference in our communities through various projects like this one throughout western North Carolina.”

Both Hyde and Kauffman expressed interest in returning to the campus in the coming weeks to provide the simulations again – this time, for an entire day of classes.

STAND T.A.L.L. (Thank a Local Lawman) can be reached at 828-393-0900, with tax-deductible donations accepted via email at info.thestandtall@gmail.com or by visiting thestandtall.org.

The Graham County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at (828) 479-3352.