On Friday, the organization Peer Awareness hosted an event in the gym for Driver’s Ed and Hope students focused on the dangers of texting and driving. The presentation contained a showing of a graphic public service announcement (PSA), a pledge against texting and driving, and a simulation featuring an actual car.
The PSA focused on a group of teenagers getting into a car accident after the driver was texting, and was designed to be as realistic and shocking as possible, to help discourage the behavior. The simulations took place in an actual car, with students hooked up to a helmet that displayed video of a realistic driving scenarios. They were then asked to attempt to text and drive at the same time, while avoiding any obstacles on the virtual course.
“A lot of them go into it thinking it’s not that big of a deal, I text all the time. A lot of people think they’re going to ace it and then they realize how hard it actually is. They definitely don’t do as well as expected, they hit a lot of cones and cross the line, and don’t realize how much they’re distracted.” Said David Vartolome of Peer Awareness.
The simulator was indeed an actual car, driven in through the double doors in front of the gym, a “very tight squeeze.”
Brett Behers / Staff Writer
I feel this was a very successful way to show teen drivers how unsafe it is to text and drive. But, like most other teenagers, everyone thinks that “it won’t happen to them.” Teenagers will always be distracted drivers in one way or another, texting or not.
I believe that no matter what the people who text and drive will continue to text and drive until it is too late. For one to stop this, you should take them to this “virtual thing” so they can see it for them selves. But with “Study show” isnt going to mean anything. Take action.
wow this was very interesting how the car fits through the double doors of the gym.
USE THE FORCE
W-O-W. I really loved this article! It gives you flat out proof that texting and driving is dangerous. Great job!