SAN DIEGO (NNS, July 25, 2013) – The national Save A Life Tour (SALT) alcohol-awareness program educated Sailors on the effects of drinking and driving at the Naval Base San Diego base theater, July 23.
The tour features a simulator which allows participants to experience the vision and steering reactions of a person who is driving while intoxicated.
“The simulator experience was pretty good,” said Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Hugo Pineda. “I found out that it was a lot more difficult to steer after the blood alcohol content level increased. It makes it harder to drive.”
The event also included a graphic video that showed the potential outcomes of drinking and driving, followed by a personal story from a SALT representative who explained how a drunk driver affected his life.
“Back in the day people were cut a lot of slack and that won’t happen in today’s Navy,” said Master Chief Yeoman Kevin Murray from Navy Mobilization Processing Site San Diego. “In the past year I’ve seen three different incidents and basically it ruined their careers. The Navy keeps saying it’s not worth it, you can lose your career because of a bad choice. You’ve earned it, keep it. I strongly believe that.”
The Navy’s Keep What You’ve Earned campaign encourages Sailors to drink responsibly. Recognition of their work ethic and achievements reminds Sailors of how much they have at stake if they make a poor choice and decide to drink and drive.
According to SALT, driving under the influence has far-reaching consequences including imprisonment, suspension of driving privileges, community service and thousands of dollars in fines.
For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.