Deputies demonstrate DUI risks at Caledonia High School

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputies visited Caledonia High School on Feb. 2, 2026, to give driver’s education students a hands-on demonstration of the effects of impaired driving, the office said.

The sheriff’s office noted that in 2023, 12,429 people died in drunk-driving-related crashes nationwide, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities. The office said education is one of the most effective tools to reduce those deaths.

During the demonstration, students steered a golf cart through an obstacle course while wearing impairment goggles that simulated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16. The sheriff’s office said 0.16 is twice the legal limit for drivers 21 and older and eight times the legal limit for drivers under 21, and that the exercise highlighted how alcohol impairs coordination, reaction time and judgment.

The sheriff’s office said every student who participated reported no interest in driving under the influence after the exercise. The office said it will continue working with schools and community partners to promote safe driving. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.