Preventing alcohol and drug use. This is the purpose of the three simulation glasses that the Cartagena City Council purchased for 246 euros as part of the Addiction Prevention Plan. They are used to show how drug usage affects sensory perception and the dangers of driving while high. The glasses have previously been utilised, such as at the just finished Carthaginian and Roman festivities.
For years, the Cartagena City Council has used alcohol and drug use simulation glasses as part of its preventive and teaching programs. According to City Council sources, their use was pioneered by the Municipal Strategy on Addictions and the Public Safety School (ESPAC), where they are used in both social awareness initiatives and professional training.
In the training field, ESPAC has incorporated these glasses into its training for law enforcement agencies and forces, including the Armed Forces, such as sessions for the Naval Police of the Marine Infantry as part of the General Albacete y Fuster Marine Infantry School programme. Participants were able to see the consequences of alcohol and drug use on driving by using realistic instances on traffic laws and road safety.
The Department of Social Services has utilised this resource for preventative initiatives as part of the Municipal Plan on Addiction. Activities have been devised with young people at events in which the glasses are integrated into circuits, allowing them to feel the loss of reflexes and coordination caused by drinking. They were also used during the Polytechnic University of Cartagena’s Welcome Party, along with symbolic alcohol measures and other awareness-raising exercises.
“The use of these tools has strengthened municipal risk reduction initiatives, facilitating practical experiences that help directly visualise the consequences of alcohol and drug use on mobility and personal safety,” according to City Hall.
It’s worth noting that since 2018, the City Council, largely through ESPAC, has used alcohol, drug, and fatigue simulation glasses to undertake a variety of training and awareness-raising campaigns. These initiatives include professional training for police tutors and road safety teachers, school instruction, citizen prevention, and public awareness campaigns. “The strategy has been particularly intensified since 2022, with the incorporation of these virtual reality tools, which make the road safety message more impactful and educational.”
According to the data, hundreds of beneficiaries in Cartagena have “experienced” the effects of driving under the influence of drugs without taking any real risks, resulting in a higher awareness of danger and, consequently, more responsible behaviour on public roads.
The initiatives will continue this year with greater resources and collaboration from institutions, local police, and social groups, “consolidating Cartagena as a pioneering municipality in the use of simulators for road safety education,” according to the City Council.
Author: Derek Appleton
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