Midn. 2⁄C Joseph Abdullah experiences drunk driving with the help of the Save A Life simulator. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 David Shen.

The Save a Life tour is a nationally recognized, high-impact alcohol awareness program. It uses state-of-the-art simulators and graphic, real-life videos to replicate the sensation of driving while intoxicated and depict the consequences of drunk driving.

The simulators imitate the effects of drunk driving by causing a delay in the response time of the user’s gas, brake and steering.

''This program is the most realistic, hands-on way to show someone the dangers of drinking and driving,'' said Chris Geysbeek, program facilitator. ''It actually puts someone in the position of seeing what it is like to drink and drive.''

Geysbeek, who has been a part of the Save a Life tour for more than five years, said that his own personal experiences dealing with friends who were affected by drunk driving initially got him involved with the tour.

''I really enjoy having the ability to potentially change the way someone feels about drunk driving,'' said Geysbeek. ''All the hard work and hours on the road are worth it if I can save just one life.''

According to LaNorseia Holder, Navy alcohol abuse prevention program section head at Navy Personnel Command, the Navy has been using the Save a Life tour to educate Sailors about the effects of drunk driving for more than three years, focusing primarily on pre-holiday stand downs and post-deployments.

''We really want to instill in Sailors the value of helping themselves and their shipmates make responsible and safe choices,'' said Holder.

This is the first year that the Save a Life tour has visited the Naval Academy.

''It is a really effective tool in teaching us about the realities of drinking and driving,'' said Midn. 1⁄C Peter Bleday. ''It is as close as you can come without actually driving drunk and the hands-on experience is more powerful than any lecture that I have ever sat through.''