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Fair Lawn
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The latest "victims" of Fatal Vision were 30 students in Ramapo College's Juvenile Delinquency Class. To date over 6342 "victims" have participated in the program. Have you?? |
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| What is Fatal Vision? Fatal Vision is a police run program whose namesake is taken directly from the technology that makes it possible —Fatal Vision Goggles. When Fatal Vision goggles are worn, they allow an individual the opportunity to experience the dangers of impairment from drugs and alcohol without suffering the all-to-real consequences. They have a first-hand account of impairment of driving skills, coordination, and personal judgment. |
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| How do Fatal Vision Goggles
Work? At first glance, Fatal Vision goggles appear similar to goggles one might wear while working in a woodshop, on a car, or working in the yard. However, Fatal Vision goggles have specially cut lenses that distort visual perception. When wearing them, a person sees things in a distorted view—as if they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Once a person has them on, they may be asked to perform certain tasks that under non-intoxicated conditions would not seem difficult to complete, but with the distortion of the goggles the tasks become difficult and maybe even impossible to do. Some of the comments we have heard from participants in the program have been: "My feet aren't there." and "The line is crooked." Well in actuality, their feet were right where they always were, at the end of their legs, and as for the line, it was taped, straight, directly on the floor! |
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| Brief History of Fatal
Vision Goggles, and Who Uses Them? Fatal Vision simulator goggles are manufactured by Innocorp, Ltd. located in Wisconsin. They were first introduced at the Conference on Wisconsin Highway Safety, in June 1996, by then Governor Tommy Thompson. Fatal Vision goggles are used for instruction in 46 states in the U.S, however their appeal for their use is world-wide. They are currently being used in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Guam, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Teachers and instructors of many traffic safety programs, as well as drug awareness programs, use them as teaching aids. Some of the organizations that use them are: D.A.R.E. officers, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), Racers Against Drunk Driving (RADD), Business Against Drunk Driving (BADD), chapters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the United States Military (US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, and the National Guard), hospitals, and insurance companies. |
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| How
did the Fair Lawn Police get involved in the Fatal Vision Program? In September 1997, "Fatal Vision" presentations were made to two 11th grade classes at Fair Lawn High School. The presentations were a cooperative effort between the Fair Lawn High School, Fair Lawn Police Department’s Community Policing Bureau, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department's Community Policing Bureau. The success of the program can be shown in the fact that additional days, a total of nine full days, were added to the schedule. These presentations were done in the student’s health classes and reached over 1400 students. Fatal Vision presentations have also been given at faculty meetings, PTA/PTO meetings, and block watch meetings. |
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| Fatal Vision makes it
possible for people to experience for themselves that a decision made based on bad
information usually results in a bad decision. The Fair Lawn Police Department has three pair of the Fatal Vision goggles. If your group would like a Fatal Vision presentation, or if you would like more information, contact the Fair Lawn Police Department’s Community Policing Bureau by phone at 201-794-5365 or by e-mail. |
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