Students learn dangers of texting and driving
Staff report
NORTH JACKSON
Since 2013, the Ohio Department of Transportation has hosted multiple events to include their texting-and-driving simulators.
To prepare for prom and graduation season, ODOT put the Jackson-Milton junior and senior students to the test.
The texting-and-driving simulator features a computer-generated simulation of texting while driving. The setup includes a steering wheel, turn signals, gas and brake pedals. After buckling up, the students take the wheel and attempt to drive with distractions.
Students receive a phone call and send text messages, all while listening to passenger conversations and attempting to drive. The students then experience the Drunk Buster Goggles. These are goggles that simulate a person being intoxicated by impairing their vision. Once the goggles are on, the students attempt to drive the simulator. It doesn’t take long before the driver makes an error and is involved in a crash that results in a simulated interaction with police, medical staff and a judge.
Tyler Phillips, a Jackson-Milton High School senior, said the simulator gave him a good lesson.
“This simulator made me realize how hard it would be to drive with a 0.15 or a 0.2 bac,” he said. “And texting while driving is not as easy as one may think, but I could not pay attention to the road and the phone at the same time. This simulator will definitely open up kids’ eyes.”
Justin Rentz, also a senior, participated in the driving simulator, too.
“I thought it was going to be easy, but I was wrong,” he said. “I was going good at first, but when I was trying to text, I failed. Then I put on the goggles, and driving was basically impossible. I wouldn’t ever want to be in a real-life situation like that. It was frightening.”
ODOT wants drivers to understand that every time they talk or text behind the wheel, they are making a choice that could have devastating and irreversible consequences.