Heritage Park High School students had an interactive lesson on drunk and distracted driving Wednesday, wearing a virtual headset and driving a simulator to experience the real-life dangers without the real-life consequences.
UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour partnered with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety to bring the event to Heritage Park High School.
“We’re just making sure that they are aware and educated about impaired driving and distracted driving,” said Shaquille Hill, team management with Arrive Alive. “This program is designed to keep the roads a little safer and make sure (the students) are not making bad decisions in life.
Organizers parked a Jeep on metal plates so that it gives the experience of being in a real car but stays stationary. The students “drove” the car while wearing VR glasses.
Simulations included the students driving drunk, drugged or distracted through the effects of the glasses. When they were finished with the simulation, they were issued a citation that shows any charges they would have received — from speeding to manslaughter.
The tent also had a TV monitor that allowed the other students to see the driver’s point of view, along with stats regarding impaired driving.
“HPHS has never had a program like this come to our school,” said Amanda Cornelius, HPHS Youth Service Center Coordinator. “Many of our students are hands-on learners so they gain more knowledge through experiences. We want our students to see the dangers of impaired driving, without having to sit in a classroom and learn about it from a video. We hope this experience will help students become more aware of the impact from impaired driving and rethink their future decisions.”
