High School Students Learn About Dangers of Distracted Driving

Thursday, 17 December 2015 07:51

Photo Credit: Brant OPP | The simulator and students. On left: Jim Gerrard of Drive Wise Brantford

The OPP and Drive Wise put teenagers in a virtual driver's seat to learn about the dangers of distracted driving.

PARIS - High school students took part in an eye opening exercise about the dangers of distracted driving.

Brant OPP Constable Ken Johnston says with the help Drive Wise in Brantford they were able to put over 200 students from Paris District High School through a driving simulation where they got to experience the devastating effects of distracted driving. "And we had some catastrophic accidents that happened during the simulation; vehicle rollovers off of large cliffs, people hitting roadblocks of vehicles, all kinds of stuff. And then we would explain to them that in real life if that kind of accident happened police would be at your door talking to your parents telling them you're in the hospital, you're severely injured."

Johnston says the simulation was a big hit, and it seemed like the message was getting through. "The kids really liked it and it's a video game so all kids like video games, but there was a lot of talk on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, even building up to it the kids were talking about it. There was a lot of buzz, there was a lot of, 'How did you do.' 'I did terrible.' And I think they were starting to realize about distracted driving and how much of a difference it makes while you are driving distracted."

At this time of year the roads can be extremely dangerous even when you are fully paying attention. The simulator could also bring in some envrionmental factors to make things even more challenging. "They do have portions where they put black ice, they put snow, they have fog, they can make it rain. This thing can pretty much change any of those climate situations. So yeah it does, and it makes them realize how difficult it is. So we had kids that couldn't believe it. Just couldn't believe the amount they couldn't control that vehicle on that screen."

Johnston also mentions that distracted driving has eclipsed impaired driving in terms of driving related deaths on our highways.