Safe Ride Seeks to Save Lives

But Simonton, whose high school friend was killed in a drunken driving accident, said trying to maneuver a golf cart while wearing goggles that simulate intoxication reinforced the risk of the crime.

"Everything looks weird," she said. "You really realize how dangerous it is."

The golf cart obstacle course was part of an event in the parking lot of Davis Library on Thursday coordinated by the student government-sponsored Safe Ride program. Organizers said they hoped to convince UNC students to use any means to get around after drinking other than getting behind the wheel.

In addition to the driving simulation, the demonstration's visitors saw a car totaled by a drunken driving accident and were offered information from anti-drunken-driving groups.

But organizers also tried to provide a fun atmosphere, handing out free pizza and cheering on the drivers.

Sophomore Anup Dashputre, director of Safe Ride, said the program is available for all students who do not want to drive but also for those who feel unsafe walking around campus at night.

"We're really worried about girls going home at night," he said.

Senior Sumit Gupta, student government's vice chairman for external relations and an organizer of Thursday's event, said the Safe Ride program was instrumental in getting the P2P Xpress to make two extra stops on Franklin Street, a program that began last year.

The bus now stops at the intersection with Henderson Street and at Varsity Theatre.

"You don't have to stagger half a mile to the P2P anymore," Gupta said. Safe Ride is also distributes cards reading, "Need a Ride?" that list the new P2P stops and telephone numbers for three local taxi companies.

Gupta said Safe Ride received support for Thursday's program from the Center for Healthy Student Behavior, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Dean of Students.

Lt. Angela Carmon, a crime prevention officer for DPS, said the event is important because alcohol-related calls to DPS are more frequent this year than in the past.

"You always want to, excuse the pun, drive home the point," she said.

Caroline Mozingo, a sophomore who also drove the cart while wearing goggles, said the demonstration gave her hands-on exposure to the dangers of drunk driving.

"This cements stuff I have learned," she said.

Gupta and Dashputre said they were pleased with the turnout at the Safe Ride event -- about 300 people stopped by during the day, they said.

Dashputre said he hopes to sponsor similar events in the future. But he said he wants future programs to be in a more prominent location like the Pit so more students can see the risk involved with drunken driving.

"The more people you touch, the better the message gets across."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.