WYOMING, Mich. (June 19, 2014) – Distracted driving can involve music, people in the vehicle, talking on the phone and texting.
The consequences can be deadly.
But there is a safe way to learn a harsh lesson: getting behind the wheel of a D.U.I. and texting simulator with the Arrive Alive Tour.
“We’ve got a car hooked up to sensors that have a sensor set on the gas pedal, brake pedal and the steering wheel,” said Chris Bennett, road crew leader with the Arrive Alive Tour.
Once you get behind the wheel and start driving, the sensors send information through virtual reality software.
“It really gives the participant a first-hand experience on what the dangers are for texting and driving or drinking and driving,” said Bennett.
The dangers are real.
According to Michigan State Police, in 2012, there were 748 crashes where someone involved was using a phone. Eight of those crashes led to a death.
“A lot of people do still think that drinking and driving causes more accidents than texting and driving,” said Bennett. “I love asking that question. For every single drinking and driving accident there’s four texting and driving accidents.”
The term used by Arrive Alive is ‘inattention blindness’
“You don’t think about it, you really don’t,” said Bennett. “When you pick up your phone you get that notification look down for a second, but all it takes is that split second, every time you do it you’re taking a gamble.”
