This past week a Distractology trailer has been parked at the regional high school. The trailer is part of a driving simulation test given to students to show how distracted driving can equal deadly driving.
Garrett Zeilinger stepped on the brake, slowing the simulated car down as he approached a crosswalk. Suddenly a boy and a German shepherd stepped out in front of the car.
“Oh look, I saved the dog,” Garrett said.
A 16-year-old junior at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High school, Garrett was taking part in a Distractology driving simulation, being held at the regional high school this week. He and fellow junior, Maggie Mayhew were navigating different driving scenarios to show students how distracted driving — texting, fiddling with the radio, talking to friends — is potentially deadly driving.
Maggie Mayhew simulates driving and texting at the same time.
Maggie Mayhew simulates driving and texting at the same time.
This is the third time the Distractology trailer has visited the high school to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. Mone Insurance sponsors the event and the Vineyard Auto School has become very involved too. The school is owned by Neal Maciel and Mike Delis.
“They actually get the feeling, they actually crash in a safe environment” said Cheryl Atherton, a Vineyard Auto School instructor. “Then they see how important it is to drive safely and be in the moment in the car.”
During the week, about 90 permitted and newly licensed students sat behind the distracted driving simulator, driving through bucolic country sides, busy cityscapes and suburban streets all with varied speed limits and distractions.
“They get to go 55 miles per hour, something they never get to do on the Vineyard,” Ms. Atherton said.
Nick Prpich, Distractology tour manager and trainer.
Nick Prpich, Distractology tour manager and trainer.
Each student spent about 45 minutes training on the simulator and experiencing different types of distraction from texting to eating and changing radio stations. In between simulations, statistics flashed on the screen before the students. One in four teens texts while driving, one said.
Nick Prpich, Distractology tour manager and trainer, walked the students through the scenarios. During a simulation where Garrett and Maggie were instructed to use their phones while driving, both students hit a blue car that merged into their lanes. Their screens simulated cracked windshields. Garrett noticed that he had been drifting out of his lane while on his phone, he said.
The students also face other distracted drivers, like a motorcyclist who ran a stop sign. Ms. Atherton told the students to slow down as they approach any intersection and be on the lookout for other distracted drivers.
“It’s still the motorcycle’s fault, but at least you are both alive,” Mr. Prpich said.
Comments
In an attempt to learn from a
andrew dunham portland, meIn an attempt to learn from a close call, I coined a term to describe the dangerous practice of removing my eyes from the road while in command of a known killing machine....
I ask myself, "Do you choose to participate in today's worldwide random public #Textecution of hundreds of innocent pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and/or passengers?"
Do you feel any unintended death due to preventable driver inattention is murder?
I find it easier to resist the urge to check my cell when driving through viewing the action as appointing myself the judge, jury and #textecutioner of someone else's child for my own convenience and/or amusement.
These avoidable deaths and injuries are #not_accidents Do you #Textecute_and_Drive?
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