Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) partnered with AT&T to bring a virtual-reality simulator to Brentwood’s Liberty High School Monday giving students a chance to see for themselves the dangers of texting and driving.
On Monday, Liberty’s driver training classes met in the school library, where they learned about distracted driving from California Highway Patrol and Brentwood Police officers and had a chance to utilize a simulator to demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving.
“I want young people to experience this texting-while-driving simulation so they can take the message back to their friends and loved ones: Resist the urge to text and drive. It’s not worth it,” said Frazier, whose elder daughter was killed in a 2000 traffic accident that severely injured his younger daughter.
Liberty High School Assistant Principal Wendy Thigpen called the experience amazing for her students.
“This is what I have been preaching to them about texting and driving and now they get to see the hands on experience of why you don’t do that. It’s not out of a textbook, research or adult telling them, they actually get hands on experience,” said Thigpen.
She called the experience an eye-opener for the students where the simulator is a safe way for them to make a mistake.
“The kids are taken back by how quickly they get in an accident,” says Thigpen. “They quickly look down and they crash within a few seconds. It’s also been reiterated by CHP about how just looking away for 5-seconds it can happen and change one’s life.”
According to John Fransen, California Highway Patrol, there is a nationwide trend with younger drivers where they are seeing a decline in DUI related accidents with fatal collisions, but they are seeing an increase in distracted driving collisions with fatal injuries.
“It’s a pretty big deal to get this simulator because AT&T has three vans that can go out around the country with this technology. It’s a pretty big deal that we have this hear today at Liberty High School in Brentwood,” said Fransen. “Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s office spearheaded this and worked to bring this issue of distracted diving to the forefront to new drivers to keep these kids safe.”
Fransen noted that the simulator was a real eye opener to the students participating.
“It’s been great. They are engaged and it’s the perfect medium for them to learn,” said Fransen. “It’s a video game that they get to play but at the same time realize that distracted driving prevents you from driving safely. There is a lot of laughter, but there is a lot of realization from each of the kids. It’s a phenomenal program.”
Thigpen agreed with Fransen regarding distracted driving and that she was more concerned with younger drivers being distracted while driving as opposed to drinking and driving.
“I feel like their phones are a part of their everyday life and they are constantly on their phones. We have to consistently ask them to put them away in class and on campus,” explained Thigpen. “I know that is more of their world and what they are used to, so getting in a car and driving while answering the phone or going on social media is who they are so I don’t think they put it together that they can’t do that behind the wheel.”
More than 100 Liberty High School students participated in the ItCanWait program. According to Assemblyman Frazier’s office, they will be bringing the program to a Solano County School in the near future.
For more information on the ITCANWAIT program, visit http://www.itcanwait.com . To date, 6,159,633 pledges have been made to the program.
AT&T DriveMode® App
AT&T DriveMode® is a free app that silences incoming text message alerts so you can avoid distractions and stay focused while driving. For AT&T post-paid customers, it sends an auto-reply letting the sender know you’re behind the wheel. The app turns on automatically when you’re driving 15 MPH or more and turns off shortly after you stop. Parents with young drivers can receive a text message if the app is turned off.
http://www.itcanwait.com/tips-and-tools
