Brian Beattie takes a stab at weaving through cones while wearing a drunk driving simulation suit at Dunlop Ford on Thursday morning.
Lethbridge-area residents had the chance to experience just how dangerous drunk driving can be on Thursday morning.
Ford Canada brought their “Drunk Driving Suit” to Dunlop Ford for the morning, in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada.
Customers, employees and even a Canada Post worker had the chance to don the gear and try their hand at a series of challenges, including standard roadside sobriety testing.
“Ford Canada is very concerned with the effect (drunk driving) has on our communities and we wanted to do a good thing for our community, so we partnered for this event,” explained Shaun Henderson, general sales manager at Dunlop Ford.
The suit consists of a variety of disorientation and movement-restricting devices such as ankle and wrist weights, disorienting goggles and earmuffs.
When put together, the equipment made it nearly impossible for anyone who donned it to complete the tasks put before them.
Ford representatives led the guests through a standard roadside sobriety test, where participants had to attempt to stand on one leg and touch their nose.
Then, they would try to weave through a series of cones without knocking any over. Typically, the course was in disarray following the participants’ completion.
Though the suit offered three sets of goggles with differing blood alchohol content levels between .03 and .17, nearly everyone who participated donned the highest-level eyewear.
Dunlop Ford also welcomed MADD Canada representatives, for a chance for the newly-minted Lethbridge-area chapter to connect with the community with this unique experience.
“This is a great opportunity for people that don’t drink to experience what the effects are like” said Anita Huchala, president of the chapter. This gives them a chance to see how excessive drinking can affect you right down to your ability to walk.”
Huchala added events like this give MADD the opportunity to continue improving awareness in the Lethbridge area.
The suit came to Lethbridge just a few days before St. Patrick’s Day, which was perfect timing according to Henderson.
“This event has been a lot of fun and that’s what I imagine most St. Patrick’s Day events will be like,” Henderson said. “We want people to have fun – but don’t get behind the wheel. The consequences are so severe.”
