A LESSON FOR STUDENTS — Matt Morgan, a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, serves as a school resource officer at Indian Creek High School. Morgan met with students to conduct a field sobriety test while wearing impairment simulation goggles to get a feeling of what it is like to drive impaired. Brayden Stewart volunteered to wear the goggles during the simulation. Morgan leads monthly presentations about various topics in the classroom of intervention specialist Amber Scott. -- Contributed

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek High School students received a lesson in the ramifications of driving impaired from their resource officer, Jefferson County Sheriff Deputy Matt Morgan.

Morgan spoke to students in Amber Scott’s class. The intervention specialist said Morgan discussed the dangers of alcohol mixed with getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Morgan provided Drunk Busters simulation goggles to give teens a look at how it appears when operating a vehicle under the influence. The goggles were part of a grant obtained by teacher Julie Robinson, who advises the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization. The goggles have been used for similar events, including prior to the senior prom.

Morgan said another activity will be held this spring, but on a larger scale. Scott’s class was joined by Robinson and teacher Jennifer Belt’s students, who took turns donning the goggles, which also mimick levels of cannabis and drowsiness.

Morgan led students through a series of field sobriety tests, including tossing a ball into a trash can and walking a straight line.

“Your eyes will lie,” Morgan told his audience, referring to the horizontal gaze nystagmus test that is done in a person’s eyes. “Your eye has an involuntary jerk and tells me you’re impaired.”

The field sobriety test includes standing on one leg and walking heel-to-toe in a straight line. Morgan conducted the latter upon participants who wore the impairment glasses. While watching the volunteers stumble elicited giggles from peers, he assured students a real situation was no laughing matter.

He noted substances can impede a driver, but drowsiness can impact the person’s abilities, perhaps charging the driver with reckless operation as a result.

“It’s my responsibility to take you off the road,” Morgan stated. Morgan completed his discussion by demonstrating a narcotics kit which identifies drugs. He used a pen filled with THC as an example to show how potent it could be. At the conclusion, he provided students with reading materials, stickers and sweets, encouraging them to make good decisions.