By Forum Staff
In commemoration of APRIL as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) is partnering with multiple agencies to bring an interactive distracted driving event to the community that will give attendees a one-of-a-kind experience that will help prevent the devastation that can occur when a motorist takes their eyes off the road.
The event will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Richmond Hill High School, located at 89-30 114th St.
The participating agencies are the NYC Police Department, NYC Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State Police.
The event will feature virtual reality crash simulations, distract driving / drunk goggles, and use of the seatbelt convincer and rollover convincer. Attendees can also take the NHTSA’s distracted driving pledge.
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia/Intel Free Press
The event will feature virtual reality crash simulations, distract driving/drunk goggles, and use of the seatbelt convincer and rollover convincer.
The Seat Belt Convincer provides a realistic experience of a 5-10 mph collision, underscoring the critical role of seat belts in preventing injuries. Participants can ride in a cart that simulates a crash, emphasizing the impact of not wearing a seat belt. Additionally, the rollover convincer demonstrates the dangers of not using seat belts by showcasing the effects on occupants in a rotating pickup truck cab with dummies representing an adult and a child.
The impaired driving simulation utilizes drunk/impaired goggles to replicate symptoms like disorientation, altered perception, vertigo, and distorted vision, illustrating the dangers of driving under the influence.
“I am not offering a class in what not to do, but rather allowing people to truly experience impairment and distraction using the senses of touch, sight, and sound,” Addabbo said. “In doing so, hopefully it will get people to think twice about being pre-occupied behind the wheel.”
Distracted driving, which includes activities like texting, eating, adjusting the stereo, or interacting with passengers, diverts attention from the road and significantly increases the risk of accidents.
According to NHTSA, 3,522 were killed by distracted driving in 2021. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
For more information on the Wednesday, April 10, distracted driving event at Richmond Hill High School, call Addabbo’s District Office at (718) 738-1111.
