Simulation Shows Distracted Driving Dangers

Most people know about the dangers of distracted driving, but they don’t always do what they should to avoid distractions behind the wheel.  With spring break approaching, ABAC is warning students about how dangerous their travels could be.
They had a car wired with computers on campus today that simulated what it is like to drive under the influence or to text and drive. Students found out that both could end in tragedy.

The virtual car may have gotten out of control, but it is better than the real thing. That is why ABAC is hoping their students learn here the dangers of distracted driving.

“We receive a grant from the Governor’s office of Highway Safety yearly to bring activities to the school to educate the students on the dangers of driving under the influence or texting,” said ABAC Dean of Students Bernice Hughes.

Students would sit in a real car and operate the wheel and pedals. They wore goggles that simulated the view of distracted drivers. One student found out the possible ramifications of drunk driving.

“Not too bad right now, we’re going to keep driving here,” said Mitchell Williams while he was on the simulated drive. “Oh, wrong side of the road. There is a person. I just killed a person. I just killed a person, man.”

For some students, it is a painful reminder of how important it is to focus on the road.

“We’ve actually lost a brother to a car wreck,” said Justin Murrell, the Vice President of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at ABAC. “It’s kind of hit the fraternity hard. With that aspect of it, I think a lot of us have calmed down with texting and driving. We’re trying to focus when we drive.”

The texting aspect of the simulation is fairly new, but it is a danger that ABAC says their students need to understand especially around spring break.

“So that they would know that while they are in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, that they need to be careful to arrive alive and come back to ABAC,” said Hughes.

It is easy to smile after getting out of a simulated out-of-control car, but it is a different story if it becomes reality.

After the simulation, they give you a list of infractions.Some are texting, speeding, swerving, driving on the wrong side of the road, and a collision. Fortunately, this was only a simulation.

The National Safety Council estimates that there are about 636-thousand crashes each year that can be linked to cell phone use while driving.