Join Berrien Springs Oronoko Township Police Chief Milton Agay and Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, along with state Sen. John Proos, state Rep. Al Pscholka and many other state and local officials when U.S. Rep. Fred Upton “starts the engine” on the GEM (Global Electric Motors) Car being used for drunken, drugged and distracted driving education.
Upton is chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and was recently named to the congressional “super committee.”
The kickoff of this exceptional tool will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Berrien Springs Public Schools Virtual Learning Center, Middle School Drive, Berrien Springs.
The GEM car, which will be available to all county high schools and police agencies, will be used to provide the most realistic educational opportunity to our young drivers, helping them make the right choice before getting behind the wheel of their car and driving away.
Participants in the program will have the opportunity to drive an actual car while using special goggles that simulate being intoxicated or drugged as well as learning how texting, phone calls and other distractions can have a drastic impact on their driving ability.
Working in partnership with the Berrien Springs Police Department and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the car and trailer have been made available through the generosity of several community foundations and businesses.
The GEM car is an all-electric, street-legal “green car,” which was made by Chrysler Corp. It was purchased from Tyler’s Automotive in Niles.
For more information, contact Chief Milton Agay at (269) 471-2813 or Sheriff Paul Bailey at (269) 983-7141.