The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office recently reported an increase in the number of alcohol-related crashes, particularly involving drunk parents with children in the car. The Sheriff’s Office is now working with other law enforcement agencies to make the roads safer, starting with the teens.
Oklahoma County officials teach middle school students through seniors about drunk driving or offer simulations, saying education is key to making city streets safer.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office posted a video on social media this week showing a subway father passed out at the wheel, allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
“You have your child in the back seat,” said the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s deputy. “How tall are you now?”
Sergeant Christy Yokley said they encounter these situations more often than they would like, which is why Yokley teaches middle and high school students about the dangers of driving while under the influence.
“We’re trying to open students’ eyes,” said Sergeant Christy Yokley of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Seeing is believing. The video of a 12-year-old on the subway wearing drunk glasses recently went viral.
“Now it’s 2.6 million. It’s just one video from a middle school student in Moore who was taking our Junior Police Academy,” said Clinty Byley of the Moore Police Department. “We do it in a safe environment where it’s controlled, where they can’t hurt anyone, except maybe a few cones.”
So I put it to the test at the Oklahoma County driving course, wearing the highest level of goggles, which were three times the legal limit.
“I had to be very careful about what gear I was wearing,” said News 9 reporter Jennifer Pierce.
On my first few passes, I drove slowly and still hit several cones. Yokley had me drive faster. I left a trail of fallen cones. Yokley said the goggles simulate not just drinking alcohol, but any type of intoxicant.
“They’re really surprised at how much it affects their movement and their walking,” Yokley said.
The district offers these experiences to schools, community events, citizen police academies and all interested groups.
