Teens learn safer driving habits in virtual reality
Fatal auto collisions are the number one cause of death among teenagers in the United States, according to safety statistics, but not all of these accidents are related to drunken driving. Many fatal accidents are linked to inattentive driving practices, and according to safety experts, the options for electronic device related distractions are increasing constantly. An average of 14 fatal accidents involving 15 to 20 year olds occur every day in the United States. At schools across the country, traffic safety advocates are setting up a special driving simulation program intended to demonstrate the dangers inherent in both distracted driving and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The simulator consists of a specially designed automobile equipped with a steering brake and gas pedal that do not physically move the car but can be used by the students to control a virtual car in a computerized simulation. Teen drivers who participate in the program wear a set of virtual reality goggles that project a digitized recreation of the experience of attempting to operate a motor vehicle while participating in text messaging using a handheld electronic communication device or while impaired by a blood alcohol content higher than the legal limit. Oftentimes, the teen participants in this simulation experience great difficulty performing routine maneuvers behind the wheel, leading to swerving between lanes, hitting other cars and even pedestrians.
