HPD Offers Program Using “Fatal Vision” Goggles April 2, 2008 - The Houston Police Department is now offering a “Hazards of Impaired Driving” program to all citizens using Fatal Vision® Goggles. The goggles, which were recently acquired by the department, will be used for presentations designed to simulate the hazard of driving while impaired. The goggles are a training tool used to demonstrate the concept of impairment by distorting vision and causing behaviors similar to behaviors exhibited by someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The goggles acquired by HPD simulate visual impairment at three levels: The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 BAC. However, drivers can be stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. Texas also has a zero tolerance law. For anyone under 21, it is illegal to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol This is a vital learning experience especially for teenagers because traffic crashes are the #1 killer of teens, with over 1/3 of those deaths related to alcohol. These young teens are often the passenger of an impaired driver. Using these goggles as a demonstration helps people realize how life threatening it is to get into a car with someone who has been drinking alcohol. To schedule a “Hazards of Impaired Driving” presentation using “Fatal Vision” Goggles or to learn more about this valuable program, please contact the department’s Public Affairs Division, Community Outreach Unit at 713-308-3200. |