Students can experience driving, playing and texting while under the influence of alcohol at the first Under the Influence event.

The event’s purpose is to increase awareness regarding the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Georgia Southern University’s Office of Public Safety will host the event.

The safety program is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Russell Union visitor parking lot.

“Since it is Homecoming Week, we felt it would be the perfect time to raise awareness of impaired driving,” Sgt. Tracy Atkinson of the Office of Public Safety said. “We encourage everyone to come out and try our simulators and see how difficult impaired driving actually is.”

Chief Michael Russell, director of public safety, echoed Atkinson’s sentiment.

“With texting and driving and DUI’s we thought it would be a good thing to put on,” Russell said.

The demonstrations will feature a rollover simulator, a cornhole game with fatal vision goggles and a texting and driving simulator.

“They’re going to have some little golf carts and a little course to go through while you’ve got these goggles on to show folks how you can’t drive,” Russell said. “You think you can but you can’t.”

GSU students, faculty and staff are invited to attend and take part in the demonstrations to combat drunken, impaired and distracted driving.

Under the Influence is held in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and GSU’s Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs Programs.